Workers rally at City Hall to protest employers who cheat them

Low-income workers and their advocates rallied in front of Los Angeles City Hall on Thursday in a bid to focus attention on “wage theft” — when employees get cheated out of legally earned wages.

It’s a pervasive problem, especially among immigrant workers in places like Los Angeles, as this 2009 study by researchers at UCLA and elsewhere shows.

Experts estimate that low-wage workers such as day laborers, janitors and taxi drivers often lose as much as 15% of their legally entitled income because unscrupulous employers short-change them on salaries. Typical violations include paying less than the minimum wage, refusing to pay legally mandated overtime and forcing people to work off the clock.

“It’s a crime to cheat someone out of their wages,” said City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who is sponsoring a proposed city ordinance that would criminalize wage theft.

Activists declared Thursday a “national day of action” to highlight the problem and help jump-start similar laws across the country targeting wage theft.

“It’s a good idea to do something about employers who don’t pay us what we earn,” said Bartolome Fernandez, 29, a carwash worker in Los Angeles who was among those attending the City Hall rally. “Maybe this will make the bosses treat us fairly.”

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-- Patrick J. McDonnell at Los Angeles City Hall

Comments

[Bill Lopez]

“It’s a crime to cheat someone out of their wages,” said City Councilman Richard Alarcon

Hey Dick, its a crime to work here illegaly.

Lets slap a fine on the employer and deport the worker.
Everyones happy.

[pf]

Maybe you should come to a country illegally. What about your cheating from the time you step foot on our land.

[devil's advocate]

"...[they] often lose as much as 15% of their legally entitled income because unscrupulous employers short-change them on salaries. Typical violations include paying less than the minimum wage, refusing to pay legally mandated overtime..."

The key terminology here is 'legally.' The problem is that these workers are choosing which laws apply to them and which do not. I have a crazy idea: Let's apply ALL of the relevant laws here. That means a legal, minimum wage and legally-mandated overtime...but to those that also have a legal right to work here.

[Jim Q. Citizen]

Here's a new idea! Arrest and imprison the pigs who hire illegal workers. You can't abuse an illegal if you're in the lock-up!

[kuruc]

sounds like illegal aliens! the cheater alarcon is their leader?

[Marlena]

Hypocrites - these "low wage" workers are theives themselves - they are stealing jobs that Americans will do and they steal tax money to the tune of over $20 Billion in California alone.

[Marlena]

"Legally entitled" income - these illegals and are not entitled to anything should not be working a job in the first place and many are shisters using fraudelent and stolen documents.

[Marlena]

I am shocked at the hyprocisy - these illegal alien criminals want the American citizen to follow the law exactly but they don't have too - they are not entitled to a job and many are comitting fraud - go to H and get the H out of here.

[Pathetic]

devil's advocate,
you forgetting about the laws about hiring illegals
that is how some in the business community wants them, illegal to take advantage of them.

[Maria G.]

Devils advocate, you took the words right out of my mouth...... If you were not working in the country illegally, you would not be victimized by employers who already show their unethical nature by hiring you in the first place.

Why not go in front of your respective statesmen and demand that they do a better job of representing you in your home country, so you wouldn't want to leave to experience these issues in the first place?

[Just Cirroc]

Boo Hoo.

Go work a car wash in Tijuana and see how well they pay you.

As a teenager, I made $2.50/hr cropping tobacco during the summer in Georgia.

Frickin' crybabies.

[wow]

"immigrant" and "illegal immigrant" are not the same thing, people.

[Steve Rodriguez]

If you don't want to be cheated go back to Mexico! If you're here illegally, you're cheating the American people!

[S.G.]

RTA... there was no mention of illegal immigrant workers in the article. And... what's up with the comments that focus on illegals and how they shouldn't complain?!

So... do you think it is OKAY to allow US CITIZENS to be cheated by employers just because the are low wage earners?

You know there are US CITIZENS out there who are janitors, taxi drivers, and even day laborers (with our current economic situation). I have never met an ILLEGAL taxi driver for instance. Have you?

It is my belief that unscrupulous employers should be jailed for cheating (stealing from) employees out of their hard earned money.

There are many poor US CITIZENS out there, and they need to be protected. Just because they're poor doesn't mean that they don't have rights!

[jose]

speaking in general everyone is an immigrant the white people came from over seas and came to this land so theyre the immigrants mexicans owned california way before and they had already been here (aztecs)