One of the best books I ever read on wage theft was written by a colleague named Kim Bobo. In her book "Wage Theft in America," she wrote that "wage theft in America is the crime wave no one talks about."
So, me and a few others working in and around the labor movement have taken the challenge to get out news about wage theft when the opportunity arises. Today I was given that opportunity again.
But wait, hold on ... it is not all doom and gloom! This piece is about a phenomenal victory, valued at $8.5 million, for workers who stood up for their rights at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Neeham Mount Auburn Hospital and New England Baptist Hospital who were allegedly victims of wage theft.
Meet me on the other side.
A COUPLE NOTES FIRST:
- I am staff at the Service Employees International Union
- This diary was posted first here
While Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the CareGroup, Inc. affiliates deny any wrongdoing or violation of federal or state law, they have nonetheless agreed to settle a class action lawsuit to the tune of $8.5 million. From the Boston Herald:
If approved by a judge, the settlement could cover as many as 9,000 current and former workers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Needham, Mount Auburn Hospital and New England Baptist Hospital.
This is a perfect example of workers standing up for their rights, demanding what is right and just. In this case, the settlement will include payments to cover back wages for workers who claimed they were not paid overtime for working beyond their shift, and workers who worked through their lunch without pay.
"This settlement is a tremendous victory for workers at BIDMC and other CareGroup facilities. Workers should always be compensated for work they perform - it is the most fundamental legal and moral responsibility employers have. In this economy, this is a big win for these workers," said Veronica Turner, Vice President of 1199SEIU, the state's largest union of healthcare workers.
Congratulations to these workers on this fantastic victory.