[FlyingBrickAnnouncements] Fwd: [RichmondIWW] Direct Action! Demand Unpaid Wages for Worker at 3rd St. Diner in Richmond, Virginia

[Kenneth Yates]

*
*
Richmond Industrial Workers of the World
<http://richmondiww.org/><http://richmondiww.org/files/2011/08/foodservwork_1.jpg>
IWW
Food & Retail Workers United*Demand Unpaid Wages for Worker at 3rd St.
Diner in Richmond, Virginia*

On behalf of Fellow Worker Moriah "Mo" Karn, the Richmond General
Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World and IU640
(Restaurant, Hotel, & Building Service Workers Industrial Union) are
initiating a campaign to demand that *$183.18* in unpaid wages be paid in
full to fellow worker Karn.

Fellow worker Karn worked as a bartender and waitstaff for 3rd St. Diner
located at 218 E. Main St. in Richmond, Virginia. Karn has yet
to receive any compensation for their labor after working a total of 86
hours at a wage of $2.13 an hour, between November 3rd and November 22nd,
2011.

Although in the state of Virginia, it is a violation of law to withhold a
final paycheck from an employee after removal (see *§40.1-29 Va State Code*),
the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry was of little help.  When
fellow worker Karn filed a complaint with the Virginia Department of Labor,
they were told that because there was no written proof of their hours
worked, ie. a time sheet, schedule, etc., and because the employer failed
to process their W2 form, there was nothing the Department of Labor could
do for them.

In lieu of this news, on Friday April 6, 2012 a letter was issued to owner,
Mr. William "Billy" Polyaris, requesting he do the right thing and pay
fellow worker Karn in full by 4:00pm Friday April 12, 2012. Informing him
that failure to do so would result in further action.  We received no
response.

Whereas the inability of the state to procure justice for workers who are
victims of wage theft, and whereas Mr. Polyaris appears to have no remorse
for the exploitation of his workers, we call upon supporters to participate
in a phone blast, putting pressure on management and demanding retribution
and accountability for Karn and her fellow workers.

*Please call the following numbers: *

*Mr. William "Billy" Polyaris*    (804)218 2204
*3rd St. Diner (24 hours)*    (804) 788-4750

*Sample Script:*  (first ask to speak with the manger) *Hello, my name is
_________ and I'm calling with support of Mo Karn in demanding that they be
paid in full, $183.18 in stolen wages.  The working people will not
tolerate wage theft by any employer, large or small.  Furthermore we demand
that you provide tipped employees' with a minimum wage of $7.25 and hour,
 free shift meals, and that accountability in the form of time sheets be
issued to all employee's at the end of every pay period.*

*Mr. Polyaris is also co/owner of several "Gentleman's Clubs" open between
11am & 2am on any given day, except Sunday 7pm - 2am: *

*Daddy Rabbits*  (804)232.0413
*Candy Bar* (804)232.5176
*Old Dominion Club* (804)643.0636
*Club Rouge* (804)643.2687
*End Zone Gentleman's Club* (804)458.2232

*
*

*Some Facts About Tipped-Employees'*

The Federal Minimum Wage was last raised in 2009 from $6.55 an hour to
$7.25 an hour in July, 2009. Some states (not Virginia) have raised the
minimum wage,  however there hasn't been any legislation to raise the
Federal Minimum Wage for tipped employee's since 1991.

Originally, the federal tipped worker minimum wage was 60% of the full
minimum wage.  However, it was frozen at just $2.13 per hour in 1991.
Because it has not been increased at all in the decades since then, it has
plummeted in value to less than 30% of the minimum
wage.(1<http://raisetheminimumwage.org/pages/qanda>
)

Many states provide stronger protections for tipped workers by requiring
that tipped workers be paid above the federal rate.  Illinois guarantees
tipped workers 60% of the minimum wage.  In New York and Connecticut it’s
approximately 70%.  And Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon and Washington guarantee tipped workers the full minimum wage – a
best practice that has successfully reduced poverty among tipped workers in
those states.(2 <http://raisetheminimumwage.org/pages/qanda>) Why can't
Virginia become one of those states?

According to the National Restaurant
Association<http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/research/state/virginia.pdf>,
1 in 10 working Americans nationally work in restaurants which collectively
register sales exceeding $600 billion.  Virginia restaurants employ over
342,200 people, and were projected to register $12.8 billion in sales.
 Restaurant jobs represent 9% of employment in Virginia.

*Richmond Industrial Workers of the World | www.richmondiww.org |
804-496-1568*

-- 


*Richmond Industrial Workers of the World* • P.O. Box 7055 • Richmond,
Virginia 23221-0055
(e) richmondiww at gmail.com • (w) www.richmondiww.org • (p) 804-496-1568


 --
::::Print & Edit the Meeting Agenda for the Richmond IWW HERE:
[ http://tinyurl.com/3r2ptju ]

::::How to Pay Dues to the Richmond GMB:
[ http://tinyurl.com/3smz5kz ]

:::: General Organizing Committee Agenda
[ http://tinyurl.com/87y7xds ]

:::: Discussion List Guidelines Adopted October 12, 2011
[ http://tinyurl.com/3ujtxx6 ]



-- 
*Kenneth Yates* • x370724 • Organizer • 804.222.8697 • yourstruly at iww.org •
*Richmond Industrial Workers of the World*   •  www.richmondiww.org
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