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Wage Theft
 Wage theft is
the crime no one talks about. Each year, thousands of Mid-South workers and millions
of workers across the country are victims of wage theft. A
landmark
study by the National Employment Law Project has found that 2 in 3 low-wage
workers in major cities have experienced some form of wage theft. Workers
Interfaith Network also did a
survey of low-wage Memphis workers in
October 2009 that found similar results.
Too many
employers break the law by paying less than the minimum wage,
failing to pay overtime, or in many cases not paying workers at all for
days or even weeks' worth of work.
It's time to bring the crime of wage theft
out of the shadows and in to the light of day, where it can be
stopped.
The Wage Theft is a Crime Campaign There are many
different ways to stop wage theft. The Wage Theft is a Crime Campaign is calling on Shelby County law enforcement to do its part to stop by wage theft by recognizing it as a criminal offense. Learn more about the campaign in our
frequently asked questions or
take action on the campaign.
Partnering with Workers to Recover their Stolen Wages
WIN's Workers' Center project
organizes workers who have experienced wage theft to win the stolen wages that are owed
to them. The Workers' Center uses a process of negotiation, legal
assistance, and community organizing to recover stolen wages. If you are a worker who has experienced wage
theft, contact
Alfredo Peņa to learn how WIN
may be able to assist you in recovering your wages.
Take Action to Stop Wage Theft
Take part in one of our
current action alerts
on wage theft. You can also help stop wage theft by
volunteering
with WIN. By
signing up for our email newsletter, you'll also be notified of times you can
make a phone call, send an email, or join a rally when an employer hasn't paid his or her
workers.
You can
learn more about the experience of day laborers, who are frequent
victims of wage theft, by organizing a small group from your congregation
to participate in our
Water is Sacred, Work is Sacred project. You
can also learn more about wage theft by reading the book
Wage Theft in
America, written by Kim Bobo, director of the national organization
Interfaith
Worker Justice.
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