Workers Protest Chain of Taquerias Over Curious Labor Violations
¡Hola!
Workers and "community members" are protesting Victor Juarez over some sort of abuse happening at his San Francisco-based "taquerias of terror." Juarez - owner of San Francisco such allegedly mouth-watering dining establishments as Azteca Taqueria, Casa Mexicana, La Fonda, La Tortilla, and Mexico Au Parc (SFist Dan will have to let us know which one is the best) - is being accused of stealing tips, denying meal and rest periods, unpaid overtime, unpaid hours of work, and verbal abuse.
One chilling case in particular is that of "Maria"'s. While employed at Azteca, she "repeatedly saw the manager, who is also the owner's brother, take cash from the tips jar." After raising a stink, she was fired. (See, things like this don't happen at Taco Bell. Something to think about.) To read the harrowing press release in its entirety, follow the jump.
Young Workers United P.O. Box 15866, San Francisco, CA 94115-5866workingyouth@hotmail.com
Media advisoryMay 5, 2008
Contacts:Dianne Enriquez : 510-xxx-xxxx
Rael Silva : 510-xxx-xxxx
Workers & Community Protest Chain of Taquerias for Labor Violations.
Thursday, July 24th from 7:30 - 8:30 PM
Casa Mexicana
3917 24th St (between Noe St & Sanchez St)Workers and community members protest Victor Juarez who owns a chain of taquerias in San Francisco that include Azteca Taqueria, Casa Mexicana 1 & 2, La Fonda, La Tortilla, and Mexico Au Parc.
Four workers have filed complaints with the Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement .The workers are Maria Medina, Patricia Yepez, Salvador Garcia, and Antonio Rosas. They accuse the owner, Victor Juarez, of labor violations that include stealing tips, denying meal and rest periods, unpaid overtime, unpaid hours of work, and verbal abuse. However, the owner refuses to negotiate and he has been delaying the process for moths.
Maria's case is an example of the injustice workers suffer at these "Taquerias of Terror." She worked at Azteca Taqueria in San Francisco for 10 years. During her time there, she repeatedly saw the manager, who is also the owner's brother, take cash from the tips jar. Shortly after she complained to the owner, she was terminated. With the help of Young Workers United, she has filed a claim against the employer for stealing tips, missed meal and rest periods, and other violations of the labor code. YWU continued to organize in Juarez's taquerias and met three other workers who testified in support of her claim.