News Blaze
The heat is on NYC employers who think they can violate labor rights laws with impunity, as the New York Times, Crain's NY, and In These Times brought attention to the January report from the National Employment Law Project that more than half of NYC's low-wage workers face some form of wage theft. Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping, the Retail Action Project (RAP), and the Rude Mechanical Orchestra hope to add to the fire with their February 3rd "March Of Hearts" demonstration in SoHo, taking to the streets with over 150 workers whose wages have been illegally withheld by employers Shoe Mania and Mystique Boutique.
Shoe Mania employees are suing the company for over $3 million in unpaid wages, while former workers from Mystique Boutique (owner of the Amsterdam, Exstaza, and Madness brands) are claiming that the owner failed to pay them over $1.5 million in back wages. The workers claim that the owner failed to pay them the legal minimum wage and the overtime rate of pay after 40 hours of work.
Hipsters should be the only fashion victims in Manhattan! The SoHo retail industry needs to take stock of its values and pay workers a living wage! At a minimum, fashion retailers must be held responsible for breaking the most basic labor rights laws.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 4:00pm-6:00pm
WHO: Reverend Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir, Stephanie Basile of RAP, the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, and hundreds of workers denied pay
WHERE: The march begins at Amsterdam Boutique, 454 Broadway between Grand and Howard. The end point is Shoe Mania, 654 Broadway between Bond and Bleecker. To meet up along the route call Michael O'Neil at 917-825-3562
VISUALS, MUSIC, AND SPEAKERS AVAILABLE ON SITE
About Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping The Church of Life After Shopping is a radical performance community dedicated to the earth's recovery, fair and just economies, and the return of free expression to public space. We pursue these goals through resisting Consumerism and Militarism and the corporations who profits from these systems. Amen!
The next Church revival will be at the 92YTribeca Stage @ 200 Hudson Street, February 6th 8:00pm. Details on this and more at http://www.revbilly.com