Labor, faith, and community activists are rallying at Outback Steakhouse restaurants in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Clive, and Sioux City on Wednesday June 18 at 6:00pm to protest the latest case in what experts are calling a growing epidemic of "wage theft" - when workers are not paid some or all the wages they are legally owed for their labor. Last fall, Kossiwa Agbenowassi worked hard seven days per week cleaning an Outback Steakhouse in Coralville to support her young children - but the restaurant's cleaning contractor has refused to pay her for 49 days of her work, totaling more than $2,300 in wages she is legally owed.

Kossiwa was hired by Sandpiper Maintenance and Repair, which held cleaning contracts with at least two Outback Steakhouses in Iowa. Sandpiper is not licensed in the state of Iowa, has no legitimate business address, and has refused to return Kossiwa's calls. This spring, alone and unsure how to proceed, Kossiwa approached the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa (CWJ), an Iowa City-based group that helps low-wage workers understand and defend their civil and workplace rights. With CWJ's help, Kossiwa has filed complaints with state and federal agencies, and has enlisted the help of faith and labor activists who have also contacted the Outback and its contractor. A few weeks ago, Representative Art Staed called for an investigation into this case by the Iowa Attorney General, Iowa Workforce Development, and the U.S. Department of Labor. In response to growing community concern, the Outback has ended its use of this cleaning contractor...but Kossiwa has still not been paid. CWJ Director Misty Rebik says that while she welcomes the Outback's decision to end its contract with Sandpiper, it's not enough. "The Outback hired this contractor, and benefited from Kossiwa hard labor. She needs to be paid immediately, and the Outback has a responsibility to make sure that happens."

Wage theft is reaching epidemic proportions in low-wage workplaces, according to a 2012 report by the Iowa Policy Project, which estimates that low wage Iowa workers miss out on an estimated $600 million in wages each year. The Iowa legislature considered a bill this spring that would have strengthened penalties against employers who don't pay their workers; it passed the Senate, but the House failed to take action. The Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa is sponsoring Wednesday's actions, with solidarity from labor federations in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Sioux City.

East Moline, IL- Ongoing negotiations between Rock Island County and Hope Creek Care Center are stalled again. Rock Island County Management proposed their last and final offer on September 23^rd, 2013. The contract is currently scheduled to go to arbitration. AFSCME Council #31 is responding to County Board Chairman Phil Banaszek's inaccurate statement in the Rock Island Argus on November 23^rd, 2013. Chairman Banaszek shamefully mislead the public by insinuating that the Union refused to accept a proposal from the County that would keep the Center county operated. No such proposal was ever made. On December 4^th, 2013, the Union has responded to the employer's last and final offer through a Federal mediation proposal. The Union's proposal offered the County hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings. In fact, the Union's proposal offered more savings to Rock Island County taxpayers and Hope Creek than the last and final offer by the County. It is obvious to the Union that the main problem with Hope Creek is the Chairman himself, who is intentionally and purposefully getting in the way of the Center becoming more financially secure. For more details or comments, call Dino Leone, AFSCME Council #31 Staff Representative, at 309-738-3193.

DAVENPORT - On Monday, October 14th at 5 PM, concerned Quad Citians will gather at United Neighbors (808 N. Harrison St. Davenport, Iowa) to call on Congress to raise the debt ceiling in order to prevent a catastrophic default that will severely harm the economy.

Speakers will call on US House Republicans to follow the sensible positions of Congressmen Loebsack and Braley, who have shown leadership on this issue.

Speakers at the event will include :

Chuck Conger, President of AFGE 2119 (Rock Island Arsenal JMTC Employees), will speak about how the shutdown has affected federal employees and how a debt ceiling breach would drastically magnify the damage done to our economy.

Tom Seymour, President of the Quad City Alliance for Retired Americans, will talk about the potential of Social Security benefits to retirees stopping if the debt limit is reached and the government defaults on its payments to retirees, the disabled, and other SSA recipients.

Mike Malmstrom of the Homeless Veterans Outreach Center will give examples of the type of work done by the outreach workers at the VA Homeless Outreach center, and how they have been already affected by the shutdown. He will also provide other examples of how veterans will be affected by the potential debt ceiling limit including the effects of a debt ceiling breach on GI Bill benefits.

The event is open to the media and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Quad City Federation of Labor, the Quad City Alliance for Retired Americans, the Iowa Federation of Labor, and the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2013

WHAT: Concerned Quad Citians to hold an event calling on Congress to raise the debt ceiling.

WHO: Chuck Conger, President of AFGE 2119 (Rock Island Arsenal JMTC Employees).

Tom Seymour, President of the Quad City Alliance for Retired Americans.

Mike Malmstrom of Homeless Veterans Outreach Center.

Union members, activists, and concerned Quad Citians.

WHERE: United Neighbors

808 N. Harrison St.

Davenport, Iowa 52803

WHEN: 5:00 PM