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Pentagon cafeteria company investigated for wage theft Pentagon cafeteria company investigated for wage theft
(about 3 hours later)
Seven Hills, the food services company that manages the food court for the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, is being investigated by the Department of Labor amid allegations of illegal wage theft.Seven Hills, the food services company that manages the food court for the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, is being investigated by the Department of Labor amid allegations of illegal wage theft.
The investigation is the latest in a series of disputes between workers and the company. Despite the strikes, the workers feeding the military’s top brass are still making a mere $9.57 an hour, nearly $4 an hour less than the minimum wage of $13.50 an hour for workers directly across the river in the District of Columbia.The investigation is the latest in a series of disputes between workers and the company. Despite the strikes, the workers feeding the military’s top brass are still making a mere $9.57 an hour, nearly $4 an hour less than the minimum wage of $13.50 an hour for workers directly across the river in the District of Columbia.
The dispute comes as many of the Salvadoran workers employed in the Pentagon’s cafeteria are facing the threat of deportation after the Trump administration repealed the temporary protected status (TPS) of more than 200,000 Salvadorans in the US. TPS shielded Salvadorans from deportation if they had arrived in the US illegally and was granted after devastating earthquakes struck their country in 2001. The dispute comes as many of the Salvadoran workers employed in the Pentagon’s cafeteria are facing the threat of deportation after the Trump administration repealed the temporary protected status (TPS) of more than 200,000 Salvadorans in the US. TPS shielded Salvadorans from deportation if they had arrived in the USundocumented and was granted after devastating earthquakes struck their country in 2001.
“I’m worried that after so many years of feeding the US military, those who defend this country, that the government would decide to cancel TPS instead of giving us something better,” said Maria Cruz, a worker in the Pentagon cafeteria.“I’m worried that after so many years of feeding the US military, those who defend this country, that the government would decide to cancel TPS instead of giving us something better,” said Maria Cruz, a worker in the Pentagon cafeteria.
The dispute between Seven Hills and some of its workers has been developing for years. In late 2013, workers at Seven Hills cafeteria began to organize to improve their wages. Back then, workers were making $8 an hour with no medical benefits, paid sick days, or vacation days. Connie Linares, an organizer with Good Jobs Nation, a coalition of labor groups that is organizing low-wage workers, said: “It was a very abusive workplace and when we started organizing there, a lot of workers were very scared to speak up.”The dispute between Seven Hills and some of its workers has been developing for years. In late 2013, workers at Seven Hills cafeteria began to organize to improve their wages. Back then, workers were making $8 an hour with no medical benefits, paid sick days, or vacation days. Connie Linares, an organizer with Good Jobs Nation, a coalition of labor groups that is organizing low-wage workers, said: “It was a very abusive workplace and when we started organizing there, a lot of workers were very scared to speak up.”
Organizers with Good Jobs Nation began talking to workers and persuaded many of them to participate in a nationwide strike of low-wage workers in January 2014. According to a report by Good Jobs Nation, more than 4.5 million workers employed on federal contracts are making less than $15 an hour.Organizers with Good Jobs Nation began talking to workers and persuaded many of them to participate in a nationwide strike of low-wage workers in January 2014. According to a report by Good Jobs Nation, more than 4.5 million workers employed on federal contracts are making less than $15 an hour.
After the strike then president Barack Obama announced he would sign an executive order raising the minimum wage of all federal contractors to $10.10 an hour and Seven Hills announced shortly after that the company would raise its pay to $9.57 an hour, not the full amount that workers had hoped, but a victory that was welcomed by the growing union of Pentagon cafeteria workers.After the strike then president Barack Obama announced he would sign an executive order raising the minimum wage of all federal contractors to $10.10 an hour and Seven Hills announced shortly after that the company would raise its pay to $9.57 an hour, not the full amount that workers had hoped, but a victory that was welcomed by the growing union of Pentagon cafeteria workers.
“It gave them a lot of courage,” said Linares. “They felt that they have power now. Before they were scared of the manager and now they know that they can fight for their rights.”“It gave them a lot of courage,” said Linares. “They felt that they have power now. Before they were scared of the manager and now they know that they can fight for their rights.”
Since their first strike in 2014, cafeteria workers at the Pentagon have filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, resulting in the National Labor Relations Board charging the company with illegal conduct on more than a dozen occasions between 2014and 2018.Since their first strike in 2014, cafeteria workers at the Pentagon have filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, resulting in the National Labor Relations Board charging the company with illegal conduct on more than a dozen occasions between 2014and 2018.
In 2016, the workers even won a major wage theft case against Seven Hills. The ruling gave 150 workers an average of $3,000-$4,000 each in back wages, which their employer had not paid them while working at the Pentagon.In 2016, the workers even won a major wage theft case against Seven Hills. The ruling gave 150 workers an average of $3,000-$4,000 each in back wages, which their employer had not paid them while working at the Pentagon.
Now, workers say that Seven Hills is once again under investigation. Workers at the Pentagon cafeteria say that they have been interviewed on multiple occasions by Department of Labor investigators. Linares said that workers have been asked to testify at a special Department of Labor hearing in November. The department declined to comment.Now, workers say that Seven Hills is once again under investigation. Workers at the Pentagon cafeteria say that they have been interviewed on multiple occasions by Department of Labor investigators. Linares said that workers have been asked to testify at a special Department of Labor hearing in November. The department declined to comment.
Seven Hills acknowledged that there is currently a pending investigation against them but said the issue dates back to before 2016.Seven Hills acknowledged that there is currently a pending investigation against them but said the issue dates back to before 2016.
“This issue was a change in law and a change in the applicable rate and only involved a relatively short amount of time,” Seven Hills attorney Jonathan Greenbaum wrote in a statement. “We are not aware of any ‘investigations’ and Seven Hills is in compliance with applicable labor laws.”“This issue was a change in law and a change in the applicable rate and only involved a relatively short amount of time,” Seven Hills attorney Jonathan Greenbaum wrote in a statement. “We are not aware of any ‘investigations’ and Seven Hills is in compliance with applicable labor laws.”
“This company deserves to have their contract taken away,” said Linares. “There needs to be punishment because they were stealing from workers who are really poor making only $8 an hour. They didn’t punish them and they need to.”“This company deserves to have their contract taken away,” said Linares. “There needs to be punishment because they were stealing from workers who are really poor making only $8 an hour. They didn’t punish them and they need to.”
However, the workers aren’t optimistic.However, the workers aren’t optimistic.
Under the Obama administration, the Department of Labor began to routinely disbar contractors that broke federal law in their treatment of workers. In 2016, the Obama administration debarred Restaurant Associates, a cafeteria contractor at the US Capitol, from bidding on federal contracts for a period of three years.Under the Obama administration, the Department of Labor began to routinely disbar contractors that broke federal law in their treatment of workers. In 2016, the Obama administration debarred Restaurant Associates, a cafeteria contractor at the US Capitol, from bidding on federal contracts for a period of three years.
Under Trump, who has already rolled back portions of Obama’s executive orders raising wages for federal contractors, many federal contract workers say they have seen a shift in the willingness of their colleagues to take action.Under Trump, who has already rolled back portions of Obama’s executive orders raising wages for federal contractors, many federal contract workers say they have seen a shift in the willingness of their colleagues to take action.
“It’s scary for many workers because Obama signed some executive orders in favor of the workers,” said Linares. “Trump, though, took away those rights so now the employers feel they have more power than before. But the workers know their rights.”“It’s scary for many workers because Obama signed some executive orders in favor of the workers,” said Linares. “Trump, though, took away those rights so now the employers feel they have more power than before. But the workers know their rights.”
Workers employed at the cafeteria inside the Pentagon say they aren’t afraid to push on.Workers employed at the cafeteria inside the Pentagon say they aren’t afraid to push on.
“I think if we continue to fight for our labor rights, we [as a union] will come out victorious. God willing and with the help of Good Jobs Nation” said Maria Cruz.“I think if we continue to fight for our labor rights, we [as a union] will come out victorious. God willing and with the help of Good Jobs Nation” said Maria Cruz.
Translation and additional support provided by Christine BolañosTranslation and additional support provided by Christine Bolaños
US unionsUS unions
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