Week of Action Against Wage Theft

November 14 - November 20

Austin:

Workers Defense Project hosted a press conference in which State Representative Rodriguez, County Attorney David Escamilla, and faith community leaders announced an exciting local effort to put an end to the practice that leaves millions of working families unable to meet their basic needs.

Here's the media coverage on this event:

* Community Impact: "Construction workers rally on national day against wage theft"
* Univision: "Robos Salariales en Austin a Inmigrantes sin Papeles"
* Texas Tribune: "Texas Officials Announce Crackdown on Wage Theft"
* KUT: "City Recommits to Fight Wage Theft"
* ¡Ahora Sí!: Ralph Barrera posted a little note on the issue last November 17th to 23rd edition.

Houston:

Houston Interfaith Worker Justice Center had a bus visiting multiple employers' business places to draw attention to wage theft and other workplace abuse. One stop was at the HPD to file theft of services claims.

Here's the media coverage on this event:

* Chron.com: "Houston workers demand justice for wage theft"
* Univision: "Protestas por Falta de Pago en Houston"
* Telemundo: "Trabajadores y activistas exigen pago de salarios adeudados a empleados del área Houston"
* Texas Tribune: "Texas Officials Announce Crackdown on Wage Theft"
* ENews Park Forest: "Interfaith Worker Advocates Strike Out Against Wage Theft, Join Occupiers On National Day Of Action"

El Paso:

Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project & Labor Justice Committee had two events:

1. On Nov. 16, State Senator José Rodríguez, District Attorney Jaime Esparza, County Attorney Jo Anne Bernal, Sheriff Richard Wiles, Police Chief Greg Allen, Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project, and the Labor Justice Committee announced a new local initiative to investigate and prosecute wage theft cases under the Texas Penal Code.

Here's the media coverage on this event:

* El Paso Times: "Wage theft: New law protects employees" &"New law will ease prosecution of employers who cheat workers out of wages"
* NBC 9: "Wage Theft Is A Crime"
* El Diario de El Paso: "Demandan a los 2 primeros patrones que roban salarios"
* ABC 7: "Officials Vow To Enforce Wage Theft Law"
* Univision: "Denuncie el Salario no Pagado"
* Paso del Norte's Youtube: "Press Conference to Introduce Wage Theft Statute"

And

2. On Nov 29, they presented petitions and sign-on letters to the City Council to pass a wage theft ordinance based on our recent El Paso Wage Theft Report.

Rio Grande Valley:

Fuerza del Valle Workers' Center along with partner organizations like South Texas Civil Rights Project, L.U.P.E. and other groups organized a press conference/rally in front of the San Juan Police Department.

Here's the media coverage on this event:

* NBC 23: "Fighting Wage Theft in the Valley"
* Public News Service: "It's Wage-Theft Action Week in Texas"
* Public News Service (Español): "Semana de Acción contra el robo salarial en Texas"

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Read the New York Times and Texas Tribune articles on our statewide campaign against Wage Theft.