Spring 2018
Litigation Updates Shepherds Across the West Towards Justice Attorney David Seligman argued in defense of some of the lowest paid workers in America - shepherds - who allege that their wages, which amount to between $2 and $4 per hour depending on the state, were suppressed by anti-competitive activity in the marketplace. Workers Sue Denver’s Posh Beauty Bar for Wage Theft Denver nail technician Lisa Miles filed a complaint in Federal Court alleging that Beauty Bar systematically stole her wages in blatant violation of state and federal law. Ms. Miles alleges that Beauty Bar implemented systematic, written policies that were clearly illegal and left workers without the hard-earned wages needed to support their families. Wage theft is shorthand for a variety of ways that employers nickel and dime employees out of legally earned wages. In this case, workers allege that Beauty Bar denied payment for certain work hours, refused to pay overtime, withheld tips, and shorted commissions. Ms. Miles not only seeks her own back wages, but also the wages stolen from all Beauty Bar Service Technicians. Towards Justice and Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP are representing the workers. Au Pair Update Towards Justice continues raising awareness of the unique workplace vulnerabilities created by the J-1 visa program for au pairs, read for example Au Pairs, an International Class of Domestic Workers, Are Suing for Labor Protections in Jezebel.
Access to Justice Updates Southwestern Colorado Workers's Rights Outreach Trip In collaboration with University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Four Corners Program, Companeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center and the Hispanic Affairs Project, Towards Justice visited Carbondale, Montrose, Telluride, Cortez, Durango, Pagosa Springs and Alamosa on an epic Workers' Rights Outreach trip. We hosted 'Know Your Workers' Rights' and 'Wage Theft and How to Fight Back' presentations to community advocates and workers in English and Spanish. Thank you to the Ballentine Family Fund and DU's Latino Center for Community Engagement and Scholarship for sponsoring our rural outreach work and empowering workers across our state.
Combating Wage Theft in Denver Towards Justice along with the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies and the SW Regional Council of Carpenters wrote a white paper describing how the City of Denver could step up in the fight against wage theft and protect economic mobility for Denver residents. Wage theft disproportionately victimizes low-wage and immigrant workers, but the scope of the problem is so big that it impacts us all. The Colorado Fiscal Institute estimates that $750 million in earned wages is stolen from Colorado workers each year. It leaves hard-working families on the brink of poverty, suffering the physical and mental health effects of financial insecurity. It also impacts larger economic factors in Denver, ranging from tax revenue to consumer spending. Read the full White Paper here.
Just Wage Navigator Training with Colorado Department of Labor & Employment In April, Towards Justice, in partnership with the CDLE trained 10 Just Wages Navigators. Just Wages Navigators are amazing community volunteers who dedicate their free time to support workers in completing and submitting wage
complaints with the State. The CDLE has a new online platform for wage complaints and the Navigator training included an in-depth look at the system, and tips and tricks on how to successfully submit a complaint. Thank you to Eric Yohe and Isamar Tello from the CDLE for co-presenting with us!
Wage Justice Day Towards Justice hosted its annual Wage Justice Day at University of Denver Sturm College of Law and offered 7 CLE courses ranging in topics from What is Wage Theft? Issue Spotting Under Federal and State Law to Qui Tam in the Workplace Rights Context. Thank you to our fantastic presenters Jay Forester, Thomas Mitchiner, Mary Jo Lowrey, Camila Palmer, Scott Moss, Nantiya Ruan, Jennifer Seidman, Clayton Wire, Partner, Alex Hood and David Seligman. Have topics you are interested in presenting or would like to see next year? Let us know!
2017 Annual Report Towards Justice released its 2017 Annual Report in March during our Impact Breakfast. Missed our Impact Breakfast? Check out our work from 2017 HERE.
In the Community - Executive Director, Nina DiSalvo presented at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Western District Payroll Fraud Conference in Las Vegas and the Freedom Network Conference - Justin Grant presented a Wage Theft Workshop in partnership with Colorado Jobs with Justice and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades - We celebrated victory of Access to Justice partner DU Sturm College of Law Civil Litigation Clinic and the Direct Action Team, which recovered $15,000 for workers! The workers were connected with the clinic through Access to Justice. Read the press release here.
Spotlight! Deborah Schaffer - Towards Justice Legal Assistant Deb is Towards Justice's newest staff member and comes to our team from the Littleton Immigrant Resources Center where she served as the Citizenship Program Coordinator. In that capacity, Deb helped hundreds of immigrants to become new U.S. citizens. She has also worked for Colorado non-profits including Catholic Charities, Project Worthmore, Denver Public Schools, the Center for Teaching International Relations and Denver Urban Gardens. With her background working cross-culturally and educating immigrant adults, she is passionate about access to information as a pathway to build equity. Deb received her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Wheaton College, along with a certificate in international development in the Human Needs and Global Resources Program. Born in Denver, Deb has spent time working in Brazil, Iraq and Sierra Leone. In her free time Deb can be found tending her beautiful plants, rock climbing, and exploring CO with her pup.
Upcoming Events May 18 - Nina DiSalvo presenting at Detention Watch Network May 22 - 2018 Candidates For Governor's Forum on Work & Working Families It's Free but Space is Limited - RSVP Here Towards Justice http://www.towardsjustice.org/
-=-=-
Towards Justice · 1410 High St, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80218, United States This email was sent to
[email protected]. To stop receiving emails, click here. -=-=Created with NationBuilder, software for leaders.
