Wage Theft In Chicago's Little Village (English & Spanish)

ARISE Chicago Worker Center member Noemi Hernandez was not paid the Illinois sate mandated minimum wage and was denied overtime while employed at the Gislex Bridal stall at the Discount Mall in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. When she complained to owner Maribel Flores, Noemi was promptly fired and denied back pay that was owed to her.

Furthermore, Flores told other employees not to befriend Noemi under threat that they would have their legal status investigated by authorities, thus revealing that Flores knowingly employs and exploits undocumented workers at the Discount Mall. Hernandez is, in fact, an American citizen and immune to such threats, however this had a chilling effect on support by her fellow employees, regardless of their status.

ARISE Chicago representatives attempted on numerous occasions to contact Flores and negotiate on behalf Fernandez, but to no avail. Finally lawyers for Flores offered Hernandez $500, representing 5% of what ARISE was able to determine that Noemi is owed under the current rate of $8.50 and hour, the Illinois legal minimum wage.

http://www.arisechicago.org