Ep. 4 Wage Theft in SJ

San Jo Lo Down

SJLD keeps things rolling with Episode 4!

In this episode, we explore wage theft. What is it, why is it, and what can be done about it? We speak with a panel of brilliant, passionate, and overall badass guests which include Ruth Silver Taube (Supervisor of Workers Rights Practice, Coordinator of The SCC Wage Theft Coalition, and many more), jean Cohen (Executive Officer of the South Bay Labor Council, Vice Chair of the SCC Democratic Party, and more), and David Bini (Leader of Building Trades Council). We start the episode discussing the demographic makeup of unions in the local area and the many challenges of working and living in the Bay Area- whether in a union or not- due to the unruly cost of… Everything. We then jump into today’s topic of Wage Theft and discuss the problems of wage theft, which Ruth describes as an “epidemic” and a “public health problem”. We discuss the overall lack of enforcement surrounding wage theft in which workers are cheated of their owed compensation. Finally, we end the episode with some hope regarding the current and future role of unions during this historic movement and moment. Have you heard of Slavery Towers here in Downtown S.J.? Stay tuned for the episode insert and conclusion where we provide additional context about some of the egregious projects occurring in our very own backyard!

Please Please Please like, share, and follow us on Instagram @Sanjo_lodown and consider donating to the show through the San Jo Lo Down Website https://www.sanjolodown.com. Thank you for being here with us today and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Resources:

South Bay Labor Council Online

https://calaborfed.org/?laborcouncils=south-bay-labor-council

What is South Bay Labor Council

https://www.southbaylabor.org/what_is_the_labor_council

Mercury News: “Silvery Towers labor woes draw accusations of human trafficking and slave labor”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/08/09/silvery-towers-labor-woes-draw-accusations-of-human-trafficking-and-slave-labor/

SCC Wage Theft Coalition

https://wagetheftcoalition.org/

The State Building and Construction Trades Council

https://cabuildingtrades.org/

Unionize California Home Page (to find and Join a Union)

https://unionizecalifornia.org/

City of San Jose Labor Relations Information (City Page)

https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/employee-relations/labor-relations-information