Yellow Rat Bastard Workers Celebrate Winning $1.4 Million Award in Backpay from Retailer

The Retail Action Project, a partnership of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) and the Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), will hold a press conference and march in SoHo to celebrate the victory of a major settlement to recover unpaid wages and overtime pay for employees of Yellow Rat Bastard (YRB) stores and their affiliates. The award is the result of a lawsuit vigorously pursued by NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and a successful campaign demanding legal wages and improved working conditions by the Retail Action Project. The lawsuit was, and the settlement will provide full restitution and damages for over 1,000 current and former employees. The YRB stores, all controlled by Henry Ishay, operate in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

WHAT: Labor and Community Rally to Celebrate Victory of Unpaid Wage Settlement for Yellow Rat Bastard Store employees

WHEN: Tuesday, February 12TH 2011 at 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: 483 Broadway (between Grand & Broome Streets)

EDITOR’S NOTE: EXCELLENT CAMERA/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY. WORKER INTERVIEWS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE.

CONTACT CARRIE GLEASON, 347‐256‐4429.

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BACKGROUND: RAP helped the YRB workers draw the extensive violations of New York State and federal labor law to the attention of the Attorney General’s office thereby facilitating the investigation and lawsuit. Ishay’s employees were often paid as little as $5.25 per hour and received no overtime pay, in violation of labor laws. For more than a year, the retail workers who are members of RAP have fought to highlight poverty wages, unsanitary working conditions and abusive managers.

Ishay’s chain of stores includes Yellow Rat Bastard, Boys and Chicks, Sloppy Joe Dirty Jane, Rubber Sole, Antique Orange, Tempo, and F.A.T. Jeans & Shoes.

The Retail Action Project (www.goles.org/rap) fights to improve the working lives of NYC retail workers.

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (www.rwdsu.org) represents 100,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers.

The Good Old Lower East Side (www.goles.org) fights for housing and economic justice in the Lower East Side.