MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: August 26, 2014
Contact: Stefanie Ritoper, sritoper@ucla.edu, 213-375-4841
Korean: Danny Park, danny@kiwa.org, 213-276-2680
New Report Shows Wage Theft Impacts Workers’ Health
City Council, Health Professionals, and Community Call for Los Angeles to Take Action
WHAT: Press Conference at City Hall to present research that shows how wage theft impacts workers’ health. St. John’s Mobile Health Clinic will provide health services to workers on site.
In Los Angeles, workers lose $26.2 million in wage and hour violations every week, the highest of any other major city in the country. Earlier this year city council passed a resolution to address wage theft in the city. They have until early October to introduce language.
WHO: Councilmembers Gilbert Cedillo, Paul Koretz, and Bernard Parks; Researcher Fabiola Santiago and Darío Maciel of Human Impact Partners; Jim Mangia of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center (Community Health Center), Workers who have suffered health problems as a result of wage theft; Representatives from Los Angeles Coalition against Wage Theft.
WHEN: Tuesday, 8/26, 9:30 AM
WHERE: City Hall, Los Angeles, CA
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA
WHY: “We found that wage theft is not just an economic loss– it also means consequences for workers’ health and their families,” says Fabiola Santiago, Researcher with Human Impact Partners. “When wage theft drives low incomes even lower, workers find it difficult to afford adequate housing, healthy food, or other resources. This affects workers’ health, putting them at risk for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental health issues. It also means they often can’t afford medication for serious health conditions.”
VISUALS: Workers receiving health exams/treatment at St. Johns mobile clinic; Diverse crowd of over 50 workers holding signs.
The Los Angeles Coalition Against Wage Theft unites low-wage workers across industry to stop wage theft. The Coalition includes 9to5, CARECEN, CHIRLA, CLEAN Carwash Campaign, Garment Worker Center, IDEPSCA, KIWA, Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Pilipino Workers Center, Restaurant Opportunities Center of L.A.,
UCLA Labor Center, UFCW 770, SEIU USWW and others. www.endwagetheft.com
