For Immediate Release:

While scores of local and city politicians gather to welcome famous Miami chicken restaurant Pollo Tropical to Bushwick’s Broadway retail strip, community residents will gather blocks away to demand justice from another major retailer in the community that owes their workers over one million dollars in illegally withheld back wages and overtime pay.

Community members welcome new businesses, but say they should respect labor laws and community workers.

At the Associated Supermarket at 229 Knickerbocker Avenue, many workers received no base pay at all for their work for years, just tips. 

Workers at the store have filed a complaint with the Labor Division of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

The ¡Despierta Bushwick! (Wake Up Bushwick!) campaign has already pressured multiple employers to pay over $600,000 in back wages to immigrant workers.  The campaign was launched by the Workers in Action Project at Make the Road by Walking.

WHAT:

Latino workers, consumers, congregants, and community-based organizations will unite to decry illegal sweatshop working conditions and will call for living wages and improved working conditions for Associated Supermarket workers.  The Despierta Bushwick Campaign is an innovative campaign to demand decent working conditions for Bushwick’s retail workers. 

WHO:               

Make the Road by Walking, the RWDSU and scores of Bushwick consumers  

WHEN:                                     

Saturday, December 16th , 1:15 pm

WHERE:                        

229 Knickerbocker Avenue, in front of Associated Supermarket, at Starr St.

(L train to DeKalb or M train to Knickerbocker)

Photo Opportunity

Interviews with affected workers available.

Click here to read more about this Event