Employees at Saugus, MA Jin Restaurant Claim Labor Abuse
Posted By Chinatown Blogger On December 11, 2007 @ 4:39 pm In WORD ON THE STREET | 2 Comments
The community newspaper SAMPAN [1] reports that employees at Jin Asian Cuisine restaurant in Saugus, MA are claiming labor abuse. Before learning of these accusations, the Chinatown Blogger had recently took his family to this restaurant for dim sum on Thanksgiving Day. Jin Asian Cuisine is the third reiteration of the business made famous by their Chinese architecture. Known formerly as Weylu, East Coast Manor and now Jin Asian Cuisine, the restaurant does not seem to have sterling [2] online reviews. The SAMPAN article also mentioned that this was not the first time the owners of Jin Asian Cuisine have been accused of worker violations. The New York Attorney General in 1997 filed charges of violations in minimum wage laws and failure to provide overtime pay. This case was settled for $1.1 million. In 2006, six workers in New York also filed claims of violations in minimum wage laws.
2 Comments To "Employees at Saugus, MA Jin Restaurant Claim Labor Abuse"
#1 Comment By a On December 11, 2007 @ December 11, 2007
Jin Asian Cuisine is one of the largest Chinese restaurants in Massachusetts, with nearly 1,000 seats. But Chinese wait-staff report:
- Stolen tips and pay: the restaurant stole their tips to pay weekend non-Chinese temporary workers at $30 an hour. Wait-staff also describe time-sheet irregularities, not being paid if they forgot to punch out, and having meal breaks improperly deducted.
- Discrimination: non-Chinese temp workers were paid $30 an hour, but Chinese temp workers were paid half as much.
- Up to 16 hours of work per day!
- Workers often had no meal breaks, but their wages and a meal fee were always deducted! When allowed to eat meals, they were given the buffet leftovers after the customers left.
- Unsafe conditions: workers suffered back and muscle injuries from overwork; one fractured three ribs by slipping on the constantly wet floors. And when workers were injured, the restaurant did not cooperate so they could receive Workers Compensation!
- Intimidation & retaliation for asking about their tips.
- Workers were unjustly fired for standing up for their rights - and then falsely accused of stealing tips by the management! This accusation, made after workers began exploring legal action, is an act of retaliation, hurting the workers’ reputations and ability to find future employment.
In 2006, Chinese & Latino workers initiated a class action lawsuit and attempted to meet with the owner, Ming Lam, who then broke his promises to them. Latino workers settled their portion of the suit this year, but the wait-staff continues to struggle on. Another negotiation has been scheduled for January — we need your support! Let them know you will not eat there, and will tell your friends, family, and community not to, until the workers demands are met!
Jin Asian Cuisine
20 Bennett Hwy
Saugus, MA 01906
For more info, please contact the Chinese Progressive Association at amee at cpaboston dot org
#2 Comment By Will On December 12, 2007 @ December 12, 2007
These disputes have occurred in many establishments and the longer these disputes last the worse everyone involved will be.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten from an attorney is “settle, settle, settle”. The faster everyone arrives at a resolution, the less financial pain everyone will be in.
Article printed from THE CHINATOWN BLOG: http://bostonchinatowngateway.com
URL to article: http://bostonchinatowngateway.com/archives/204
URLs in this post:
[1] reports that employees: http://sampan.org/show_article.php?display=1386&PHPSESSID=15a397038fa8606b4c
57f19fd3b618fb
[2] online reviews: http://jinasian.com/
Click here to print.