FUZHOUNESE WORKERS TAKE ON DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION

Workers from the third largest restaurant in Chinatown, "Yue Tung Restaurant" (a.k.a. "Triple 8" and "88 Palace") are organizing to assert their rights and fight against unfair labor practices. This is the first time Fuzhounese workers are leading the organizing efforts in Chinatown restaurants. The workers have not yet won their lawsuit for minimum wage and overtime pay, yet working conditions have already improved dramatically since the workers came forward.

Some of the "Triple 8" workers are undocumented but are still fighting back despite all of the many risks. When the workers began to organize, the bosses responded by taking advantage of the Employers' Sanctions provision. This provision, which is part of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, gives employers the power to check workers' documents and pit undocumented workers against other undocumented and documented workers.

Interview with a "Triple 8" Restaurant Worker