Restaurant Workers—Mediterreanean Restaurant, 2019
Cooks, preppers, and dishwashers at a Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco’s Fillmore district were subjected to many unfair conditions. Workers were reffered to TUWU, where an organizer supported them in coming together. They were able to learn how to negotiate for better working conditions. These workers demanded for their rights to be respected, improved communication between bosses and workers, health and safety, and equitable distribution of tips. Because of their unity, they were able to win the changes they demanded!
Humberto K. — Ghost Kitchen, 2022
Humberto worked in a ghost kitchen (a kitchen where there are several restaurants that only sell takeout) in San Francisco and lost his job. He was not paid for the last month he worked. Humberto, as a member, had learned how to make a concrete plan to confront his previous employer about his stolen wages. Humberto was able to successfully negotiate with his previous employer and recover $2,950 of his stolen wages!
Ilsi R. — Fast Food Restaurant, 2023
Ilsi faced several labor violations at a fast food restaurant in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. She was not paid overtime, did not receive full breaks or tips, and faced various forms of retaliation when she began asking her manager about these issues. First, they lowered her salary and then they cut her hours. Finally, when the boss heard that Ilsi was talking to her colleagues, she was fired. Since Ilsi had just learned about her labor rights, she was able to work on creating a plan immediately. Through Ilsi’s leadership, she was able to confront the boss and return to work the NEXT day!
Dinora and Heriberto — Taqueria restaurant, 2024
Dinora and Heriberto worked for years at a taqueria in the Mission. Both worked shifts of up to nine or twelve hours, with no overtime pay and no half-hour breaks. In November 2023, the owner decided to sell the business. After connecting with TUWU, Dinora and Heribero decided to demand payment for their overtime work and fines for not having taken breaks. In total, the owner owed them more than $100,000. Dinora and Heriberto were able to successfully negotiate to reach an agreement that would return $65,000 of their overtime wages and break fines!
Veronica C. — Sandwich Shop, 2024
Veronica had worked at a Sandwich shop in Pacifica for two years and was never paid sick time, nor did she see this sick time accrue on her check. Veronica’s manager would also deny her mandatory 10-minute breaks. One day in April, Veronica woke up feeling sick but decided to go to work because she was afraid of losing income if she missed it. That day, Veronica asked her employer how she could take sick time. The employer did not answer and ordered her to continue working. Four days after this conversation, Veronica was fired. She found TUWU during a labor rights presentation and decided to take action. Veronica wrote a demand letter, which she presented to the employer and demanded her immediate return to work. Veronica was able to return to work and was paid $1,590 for her time away! Upon returning, she began to see her hours of paid sick leave reflected on her paycheck and she reports being able to take paid sick leave.
Belquis S. and Enma G. — Grocery Store, 2024
Belquis and Enma both worked at a local San Francisco grocery store. Through TUWU, they learned about paid sick leave. Belquis was dismissed after calling sick and requesting for paid sick leave. The owner told Belquis that the grocery store did not pay workers for sick time. After much discussion, the owner paid Belquis her owed paid sick time. Since that initial conversation,grocery owner had been hostile towards Belquis until she was finally fired on May 11, 2024. Belquis reached out to TUWU and the Labor Commissioner’s Office, and was able to be reinstated to work. She also connected her co-workers with TUWU so they could also learn about their rights.
Enma, an employee of the same grocery store, was referred by Belquis to learn more about her rights as a worker. Enma was not being paid for her overtime work or for Paid Sick Leave (PSL). Enma decided to take action by demanding the owner pay what is owed. Her employer threatened to retaliate by taking 2 days off her schedule. The employer was informed that retaliation was illegal. The employer made corrective actions. Enma was able to choose her schedule, and she also received $578 paid back of unpaid overtime and PSL on her paycheck. Today, Enma continues to do outreach with TUWU organizers to inform workers about their rights.