Amish Market Groceries Cheated Workers Out of Overtime

550 workers who were illegally denied overtime at nine Amish Market gourmet groceries will divvy up nearly $1.5 million as part of a settlement with the state Department of Labor. At a press conference yesterday, Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith detailed the investigation of Amish Market and its related stores: Zeytinia, Zeytinz and Zeytuna. Acting on a tip from union officials, investigators conducted a simultaneous sweep of nine locations throughout the state in June 2007, arriving at the same time to prevent managers from coaching employees or destroying records. The investigation determined that many workers were clocking 45 to 60 hours a week but were not paid time and a half, while new hires often received subminimum wages during a so-called "trial period." Commissioner Smith told reporters, "It’s unfathomable to think that in this day and age—in these frightening economic times—an employer would actually believe it could get away with cheating workers out such an exorbitant amount of their hard earned money."

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By John Del Signore in Food on February 27, 2009 10:55 AM

Comments [rss]

Hayat

Is there anybody to comment mine?do not prejudge if u don't know anything.if u are not sure do not blame Amish.lm a regular customer of Amish and l love to shop.there are really nice stuffs.there are helpful manegers and workers.lk Amish is not like that because l almost talk to all workers and they don't have any problem.they are satisified with the system of Amish.go and talk to workers.talk to all of them...and than u will find out the truth...

Hayat

Hey guys whoever reads my comment if u don't know something do not comment or talk u say Amish doesn't pay employees their right or Amish doesn't pay overtime.of course they do pay.they just follow their workers schedule.workers should follow their schedule they can not come earlier or leave later than their schedule.of course if they do manegers have a right not to pay.because they don't need workers stay more.they already give the workers schedule.so there is nothing else to talk more about it.l should admit that Amish is a really nice market.l love Amish food specially pizza and sandwich from deli.it has a really nice and kind manegers.whenever l go there they always help me if l need.Union is just bothering people they are just making noise.l asked too many workers there about Amish.they all told me that they are satisified.they are happy and they like Amish system.Amish is really a sociable market.l love it.do not prejudge somebody if u don't know.some people can protest but that doesn't mean that they are right.how do u know that they are right.who knows perhaps they cheat people whoever shop from Amish.do not say something if u don't know.there are always some people in every where who is not satisified and who complains.nobody can stop this it's like there are always bad and good people in the world.nobody is infallible. if u want to learn the truth go and talk to the manegers and workers.

NannyState

At Amish Market, they Hiram then Firam.

Guest

http://www.instantrimshot.com/

ducatista

Wow, I too started shopping at Amish Mkt many years ago - the one on 9th Ave in Hell's Kitchen. Back then it was basically a bunch of plywood stalls filled with produce, a big blue tarp for a roof, and not much else. As they continually upgraded over the years, I was happy for the really nice owner and the market's success.

Disappointing is an understatement - what a shame that in climbing the ladder of success the owners haven't accorded the same level of respect for their employees that they obviously helped themselves to.

After Amish squashed their employees' attempt to unionize last year I began limiting my shopping there, even though it has the most variety in the neighborhood. This just makes them even harder to patronize - I guess it's time to rely more heavily on Stiles Market on 52nd (way cheaper and better veggies anyway) and up the monthly pilgrimage to Fairway Harlem....

Wza

Ahh Kingpin!

Now that, right there, was a good movie!

bluerain

As a long time customer at Zeytuna on William Street downtown, I was really sorry to hear that the workers never made any of the money off the super-premium prices they charged for their rugelach, risotto and baklava. I always thought that the Turkish family-owned establishment was a nice addition to NYC, where family owned establishments were/are going out of business. Now, I realize, that it was nothing but a front. I won't be shopping there anymore, and I hope they are continued to be monitored for abuses to the system.

Hayat

Did u see something or did u talk to all workers of amish?lm sure u didn't listen carefully l always believe that there are always bad and good or happy or unhappy people in the world.that's why we shouldn't blame anybody before we dont know very well and we shouldn't believe whatever we hear.try to find out the truth instead of prejudging people.u never know who is right or not.sometimes if u even see something or hear do not believe right away.it may be wrong.who knows.

jackdonaghy

I used to go there everyday as well, until I heard about their roach problem and how they allegedly use unfresh foods in their salad bar. I didn't find out about the digusting manner in which they treated their workers until recently.

Guest

It just goes to show that you can't trust the Amish.

Outter Burrougher

i second nyctini

also, smith, these troubling economic times? 99.9% of people didn't see these troubling economic times coming in JUNE 2007 when the places were raided.