NYS Department of Labor announces $2.3 million settlement on behalf of restaurant workers

Democracy for NYC has long supported the Justice Will Be Served! Campaign in fighting against unfair treatment of restaurant delivery workers by owners at many restaurants in New York City.

The Justice Will Be Served! Campaign sent a note of thanks to us for our continued support and this news of a recent victory.

For many years Tsu Y. Wang has profited millions of dollars from dozens of restaurants, such as Ollies’ Noodle Shop & Grill/ Tomo Sushi/ Vine Sushi (formerly known as Café Swish), amongst many others.

On March 19, 2009, the NY State Department of Labor announced their settlement with owner Tsu Y. Wang for backwages for 800 workers in the amount of $2.3 million.

Although the NYS DOL has taken a good step towards recovering wages, the DOL has only recovered a small percentage of what Wang has stolen from workers. More than 100 workers from all the above shops continue their federal lawsuits against Wang. Furthermore, Wang still treat the Upper West Side as a no law land and continues to retaliate against those who stand up for their basic right. More and more workers from his numerous shops are coming together to fight. He has still refused to resolved labor disputes with workers in his shops. Recently, Wang closed Tomo Sushi at 110th after workers there tried to form a union; and refused to hire the union workers at Café Swish at 116th Street after he reopened the restaurant there under a different name.

We urge that you continue to support our campaign and not let Wang’s schemes undermine law-abiding businesses and set a bad example for businesses all over the UWS.