Center for Worker Justice plans Rallies
State Representative Art Staed has asked Iowa Workforce Development, the U. S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, and the Iowa Attorney General's office to initiate an investigation into potential wage theft by a cleaning contractor at Outback Steakhouse restaurants across Iowa. Both the U.S. DOL and the IWD have agreed to proceed with investigations.
In a letter dated May 27, 2014 to Iowa Workforce Development, Staed lays out the case of Kossiwa Agbenowassi, an immigrant from Togo Africa, who worked 49 consecutive days for Sandpiper Maintenance and Repair cleaning the Outback Steakhouse in Coralville without being paid. Staed, along with the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa (CWJ) claims Agbenowassi may have also been illegally misclassified as a subcontractor, allowing the cleaning vendor to avoid paying taxes into the state."We must take a stand against business models that abuse workers, break the law and perpetuate a cycle of injustice." Staed wrote. "For these reasons I formally request an immediate investigation into the wage practices of Sandpiper Maintenance and Repair and their wage and labor practices with Outback Steakhouse and other companies throughout Iowa." Staed's letter requested the investigation include all Outback Steakhouses in Iowa.
Staed has tried repeatedly to reach corporate representatives of Outback to resolve the matter and joined around 70 people associated with the Center for Worker Justice in delivering a letter to the Outback restaurant in Cedar Rapids addressed to Outback management.The Center for Worker Justice (CWJ) is a coalition of immigrant, community, faith-based and labor organizations who have highlighted wage theft cases in Iowa. Agbenowassi originally contacted CWJ after her attempts to be paid were unsuccessful. CWJ contacted both Sandpiper and the Outback to resolve the issue prior to delivering the letter.
According to Misty Rebik, CWJ's executive director, further actions are planned against Outback Restaurants across the state if the issue isn't resolved. "People have a choice when it comes to dining out.We want the public to know which restaurants are responsible employers and which establishments aren't.
We plan to hold Outback accountable to their shady business model that undermines good businesses and workers."Rallies will be held June 18th in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Davenport.
Outback Steakhouse - 10901 University Ave, Clive, IA. 6 PM (515-265-1862 or mark@scifl.org)
Outback Steakhouse - 1235 East Kimberly Rd, Davenport. 6 PM (309-716-8622)
Outback Steakhouse - 3939 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids. 6 PM - 319-339-9873 or 319-361-3212
Outback Steakhouse - 4500 Southern Hills Dr, Sioux City. 712-276-0473
Last fall, Kossiwa worked hard 7 days per week cleaning an Outback Steakhouse to support her young children. Now, months later, she is still owed over $2000 in wages by the Outback's unscrupulous cleaning contractor, who refuses to answer her calls.
This is a classic case of wage theft, when workers aren't paid the wages they are legally owed. Studies say it's a growing epidemic in Iowa, and across the country. We can't let this happen in our state.
The Center for Worker Justice (CWJ), Representative Art Staed, and our allies in labor, faith, and community groups have repeatedly contacted the cleaning contractor and the Outback to resolve this problem. They are refusing to respond.
Join us for a statewide day of action. We're calling on the Outback to pay Kossiwa her hard-earned wages and end their contract with this cleaning contractor.
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