March 24, 2007
Saigon Grill Strike Heats Up With Lawsuit
Workers at Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Grill have gone on strike - and have also been locked out by the owners - for over two weeks. Now, the workers have filed a lawsuit against Saigon Grill for a wide range of labor violations.
According to the Justice Will Be Served, the group that is working with the workers: "The owners demanded workers sign an illegal contract, stating that they have received minimum wage, even though they received less than $2 an hour. The owners [Simon and Michelle Nget] told them not to come back when the delivery workers refused to lie." They allegedly also offered a deal: $20 pay for a half-day's work of 5.5 hours or $35 for a full twelve-hour day. This was of course rejected. Some more claims: "Delivery workers are charged heavy fines for late deliveries, regardless of harsh weather conditions, and are sent to unsafe areas. The statement also says that when they are robbed or injured on the job, they must cover medical costs as well as the expense of the lost orders."
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund also said, "These delivery men were terribly exploited and mistreated by Saigon Grill. The restaurant paid them a fixed amount each month, with most of the workers earning between $1.70 an hour and $2.45 an hour—well below minimum wage. While their customers sometimes tipped them well, their bosses fined them $50 for ‘slamming’ the restaurant door, which they would then have to pay out of their tips at the end of the day.”
NY Magazine noted that local politicians are supporting the restaurant workers: Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer says restaurant delivery conditions are a "dirty little secret that needs to get exposed."
The restaurant has been forced to stop delivery service because all of the workers at their two locations - on University Place and on Amsterdam Avenue - have refused to work and many are picketing every day.
Gothamist also just got word that both Fader and The Human Giant team are boycotting the restaurant. Join them!
Photograph from the Village Voice
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What did you expect? Fake Vietnamese food cooked by Chinese to trick guilo! Only reason they get any business is because it's more convenient than going to the real places like Pho Bang or Cong Ly. I hope they go out of business!
Un-f*ckinbelievable.
The irony is that they do pretty well. The university pl location is always packed.
The pseudo-ethnic cuisine is nothing new. How many genuine japanese places do you know of? Italian restaurants run by italians? They should've just fusionized everything like everyone else.
I hope they go belly up too. But they'd just come back under another LLC and run the gamut elsewhere.
Come on people. How many places can you name that have the actual enthinicities cooking the food for which they are known? I betcha you would be hard pressed to rattle them off.
What Siagon Grill does is wrong, but their food isn't so bad. Just look at all those packed in at all three of their locations across town.
Look closely at all the Asians; Vietnamese and Chinese alike who fill up the chairs as well.
That is insane. Obviously, I support the workers. How can someone live on $2.00 and hour (plus minimal tips) in New York City???!!!!
I think the dirty little secret is that many of these delivery men are able to afford to buy their own houses in New Jersey, but are claiming that they don't have enough money to live.
Come on people. How many places can you name that have the actual enthinicities cooking the food for which they are known? I betcha you would be hard pressed to rattle them off.
Vietnamese: Pho Bang, Cong Ly, Nha Trang, Pho Viet Huong, Doyer's, Thaison, New Pasteur.
Thai: Pam's, Pongsri, Kittichai, Sripraphai, Spice
Japanese: Shimizu, Japonica, Nobu, Sushi Yasuda, Masa, Gari, Megu... on the other end of the spectrum, Village Yokocho, Kasadela, Rai Rai Ken.
Is that enouhg for you?
Look closely at all the Asians; Vietnamese and Chinese alike who fill up the chairs as well.
Can you tell the difference between Vietnamese or Chinese? Maybe they are tourists and don't know better? Maybe they are cheap NYU students who don't know better?
Whoa -- leaving the labor issues aside, what's with the hating on the food? Someone who takes the trouble to make food exactly like back in the old country will often make it well, but that's not the only possible way to make good food. Saigon Grill's pretty damn good, especially for the price. (And those NYU students are late to the party; UWS-types have known about Saigon Grill for ages. UES-types will again, if indeed that location renovates and reopens.)
I'm sad to hear about the strike, and the conflict, but wide swaths of the restaurant industry operate in areas that are legally shady. (c.f., Kitchen Confidential and all that.)
Also, minimum wage laws are different for tipped employees: see esa/programs/whd/state/tipped.htm#NewYork on www dot dol dot gov
It looks as though the nominal minimum wage for a delivery person who makes good tips is $4.85/hour. The number quoted in the article is much less, but I'd bet my salt practically nobody really pays $4.85/hour to their delivery staff. Perhaps the problem in this situation is a question of degree, and of management practices that go beyond unsavory.
Good for them.
Saigon Grill's pretty damn good, especially for the price.
Sure if you consider MSG soup and pork chops as "pretty damn good". Gothamist must have average guilo simple palate.
"Saigon Grill's pretty damn good, especially for the price". Uh, no, it is expensive. I far prefer Thaison (for price and for food) but what you do pay for at Saigon Grill is better comfort and ambiance.
"Fake Vietnamese food cooked by Chinese to trick guilo". Um, maybe you don't like Sinicized Vietnamese food, but some people do. Just as some people prefer Indianized Chinese or Americanized Chinese food and not real Chinese food. It isn't to "trick guilo", it is simply building a business on what customers want.
Crap. Had I know about this, I wouldn't have eaten there tonight.
c'mon, don't hate on "craptastic" or his other "names".
He's just pissed he's still living in a run down tenement in Chinatown while all his buddies have moved on and made something of themselves.
Hi angry,
Okay -- so SG's not cheap compared to what can be had in Chinatown. Would I complain if someone cloned the menu and prices of Pho Viet Huang, but in my neighborhood? Clearly not. (Though I shudder to think what they'd have to pay _their_ staff to pull that off.)
By most Manhattan neighborhood standards, though, a menu where 90% of the items above $10 are seafood entrees is pretty cheap.
He's just pissed he's still living in a run down tenement in Chinatown while all his buddies have moved on and made something of themselves.
You have something against Chinatown tenements?
Of course, I don't hate Chinatown tenements,
But, don't you think it's time to move out of your parent's apartment. I think they would like to reclaim their space. Considering how tiny those tenements can be with the tub in the kitchen and all.
But, don't you think it's time to move out of your parent's apartment. I think they would like to reclaim their space. Considering how tiny those tenements can be with the tub in the kitchen and all.
You seem to be alifestyle expert. You need to stop stalking me.
Nget is actually a Cambodian name.
And the food is godawful ... but if Vietnamese cuisine is that important to you, you should move to DC, Orange County, or Texas ... you're really not going to find it in NYC.
Look closely at all the Asians; Vietnamese and Chinese alike who fill up the chairs as well.
Can you tell the difference between Vietnamese or Chinese? Maybe they are tourists and don't know better? Maybe they are cheap NYU students who don't know better?
Actually, yes I can tell the difference. Many can if you look hard enough. Just as some can rattle enough restaurant names on a message board.
Just like the person before said, why all the hating on the food. So many go nuts over, "what is authentic" but the proof is in the pudding, or as the case may be, the pho. The place has always had good business and its expansion furthers that proof. Many say McDonalds is shit, but any franchise owner will laugh at you all the way to the bank!
Take it easy people. Its only food!
what the fuck is peoples problem w delivery guys trying to get minimum wage? if you weren't paid minimum wage you'd be screaming too. these guys risk their lives in all kinds of weather to get us our food.