Results tagged “wages”

Six New York construction companies illegally paid white workers more than minorities who had the same jobs, a state lawsuit alleges. White workers earned an average of $25 per hour, while blacks netted $18 per hour and Latinos took home only $15 per hour, according to the suit filed by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Since 2002, pay discrepancies at at least ten different construction sites scammed minorities out of $4 million in wages and overtime.

State labor officials have recovered $2.3 million in back wages for more than 800 workers at nine restaurants, including the Ollie's noodle shop mini-chain, all owned by Tsu Yue Wang. After years of protests, the wages were recovered on behalf of cooks, delivery workers and waiters, and labor officials tell the AP that some were owed as much as $30,000. In a statement, Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith said, "These restaurants are known throughout the city for supplying Asian food for families at reasonable prices. But as families enjoyed quality food at a price they could afford, workers toiled under the weight of below-minimum wages, late paychecks and lack of overtime payments." So misery is the secret ingredient that makes Ollie's noodles so delicious! The payout comes on the heels of a Labor Department settlement with Amish Markets, whose owners cheated workers out of $1.5 million in overtime. Up next: the 21 Club is being sued by employees for withholding part of their tips.

After a multi-year investigation, attorney general Andrew Cuomo has announced a $750,000 settlement for wage violations by a company that owns supermarkets in Chinatown, Elmhurst and Flushing. According to City Room, employees at the three stores worked 13 or 14 hours a day, seven days a week, totaling 90 hours a week in some cases. But most of them were paid just $360 a week, about the equivalent of $4 an hour. (The labor department says they should have made $714 a week at those hours.) In a statement, Cuomo said, "Employers who line their pockets instead of paying workers the wages and overtime they’ve earned will be brought to justice by my office." The Times tried to get a comment from Long Deng, the owner, but he's in China (hopefully not sourcing more labor). And Deng is not to be confused with the supermarket executives arrested in October for paying their grocery baggers with the tip change shoppers (sometimes) leave at the checkout.

Con Ed and about 9,000 workers are locked in a contract battle that may threaten the city's power come Sunday. According to Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, the utility and workers are "miles and miles apart."

Building workers such as doormen, office cleaners, and janitors will probably not go on strike at the start of 2008 after their local union reached an agreement with Manhattan commercial property owners. Union members still have to vote to ratify the new four year contract, but the union leaders are recommending they do so.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released data showing Manhattan as the country's highest paid place. Thanks to financial executives' salaries, the average weekly salary for a Manhattanite is $2,821. The next highest weekly salary in the country is Fairfield, Connecticut - $1,979. The figure reflect the heady first quarter of 2007. The rest of New York City residents make more modest amounts. Queens residents make an average of $831/week, followed by $788 made in...