Neither rain nor an unusually cold May afternoon could dampen the determination of Adriane Padilla in celebrating a victory in her Wage Theft Campaign. On Sunday, May 15th, Ugnayan ng mga Anak ng Bayan members were joined by domestic workers of DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association in supporting Ms. Padilla. The vibrant 30-member contingent spread the news of a victory, delivered letters of support for Ms. Padilla at her former employers’ home and visited nine restaurants along Roosevelt Avenue, in the hub of the Filipino community in Woodside, Queens as part of Restaurant Workers Appreciation Day.
“I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Ugnayan, DAMAYAN and the community for the endless support,” says Ms. Padilla. “This would not have been successful without all of you. It was such an empowering experience for me.” An eager Ms. Padilla led the way in distributing flyers, collecting letters of support and talking to passersby on the way to San Sebastian Church.
Ms. Padilla’s upbeat disposition on Sunday was in stark contrast to the young person she was eight years ago – as a 19 year-old restaurant worker who labored at Barrio Fiesta and experienced workplace violations. It took almost three years in civil court before she won a final judgment by Honorable Ramon E. Reyes, Jr., US Magistrate of the Eastern District of New York in September 2010 and was awarded $26,000. Eight months after the legal victory, Ms. Padilla has yet to receive a dime of her stolen wages from her former employers, Santiago Manlapaz and Lilia Reyes.
“We collected letters of support to seek one thing,” says Ms. Padilla, “and that’s JUSTICE.” After distributing 500 flyers, Ms. Padilla and the group marched to the Woodside home of Manlapaz and Reyes with umbrellas and signs reading, “Uphold Adriane’s workers rights and dignity!” and “A violation of Adriane’s workers rights is an injury to us all!” After ringing the doorbell, knocking and not getting a response, the group left the support letters and signs at the Manlapaz and Reyes’ front door.
“We want to tell her former employers that Adriane is not alone,” says Ugnayan Spokesperson, Chevy Evangelista. “We will continue this campaign until Adriane receives full compensation and a written apology.” Ugnayan, a grassroots organization the fights for the rights and welfare of Filipino youth, has sustained the campaign since December 2007.
According to a New York City survey in 2010, workers in low-wage jobs lost more than $18.4 million per week due to employment and labor law violations. Employment violations impact Filipino youth’s ability to thrive, pay for school, and support their families, especially during today’s economic crisis. The average tuition is rapidly rising; by 2014 it will be $24,000 per year. Youth unemployment, too is on the up, thus more youth, desperate for jobs or clinging to those they already have, are more susceptible to suffering workplace violations. Because of impoverished conditions in the Philippines, youth like Ms. Padilla, forced to migrate abroad, are pushed into low-wage work where abuses and discrimination are prevalent.
Determined to extend the same support to other restaurant workers, the large group broke up into smaller teams to visit Filipino-owned restaurants as part of commemorating “Restaurant Workers Appreciation Day.” Ugnayan’s certificates of recognition for workers read, “You are the backbone of the restaurant industry that provides the day-to-day manual labor which feeds, nourishes and satisfies customers.” Both undocumented and documented Filipino restaurant workers helped to generate $13 billion in New York City’s restaurant industry’s revenue for 2010. Certificates also stated, "Your contributions should be given more value in society.”
The afternoon ended with a workshop conducted by Senior Staff Attorney, David Colodny of the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center. Participants were trained in legal protection for tipped workers. The workshop served to develop a broad Young Restaurant and Service Worker Campaign intended to lift the Filipino American community towards a common vision of respect, equity and justice.
Ms. Padilla exclaims, “This is just the beginning. For restaurant workers who are afraid to get help, don’t lose hope. Ugnayan will be here for you. The most important thing is to fight for your rights and it will be worth it. Others will also be inspired by you and we can continue the cycle of hope.”
