Protesters numbering in the hundreds marched through Manhattan Chinatown against what they said was exploitation against workers, reports Liberation.
They demanded the end of 24 hour workday for home care attendants, that real estate developer Jonathan Chu reopen Jing Fong dining hall, and that the Museum of Chinese Americans allocate $35 million it received from the state to support small workers and businesses hurt by the pandemic.
The museum received the money after community members protested the planned opening of a new jail in Chinatown. Plans for the jail were eventually scrapped, but then upheld by the Court of Appeals. The protesters also say the Chinese American Planning Council fails to represent the community’s best interests.
“These are people who not only look down on their own community, but then they will tell the whole world that ‘I represent the Asian community,’” said Zishun Ning of the Chinese Staff and Workers’ Association.”We have these sell-outs who gladly accept their bribe … And then [MOCA] will say, ‘Well, we can’t save Chinatown, but at least you can allow me to put you in our museum exhibit!’ They’re not fighting racism as they claim! They just want a seat at the table and share [in] the exploitation! This is the mentality of MOCA, CPC, and all these sell-out institutions.”
The protest comes at a time when more attention is being paid to wage theft of Chinatown workers. In San Francisco, NBC reports there have been numerous rulings granting workers back pay.
Workers at one Sichuanese Restaurant received $600,000 in tips held from them. It was part of a $1.6 million settlement for 22 workers there.
The owners of Z&Y Restaurant say they only settled to avoid a costly legal battle.
“The restaurant and its owners never ‘stole’ any wages or tips from employees, nor did they retaliate against any employees,” an attorney said in a statement. “That simply did not happen.”
In 2019, owners of the Joy Luck Palace in New York were ordered to pay 19 former employees nearly $1 million in stolen wages. To date, labor organizers said none of that settlement has been paid.
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