Posted on 04/08/2012 9:50:45 AM PDT by matt1234
A labor protest at a historic Seattle bakery turned violent Saturday and police were called when demonstrators clashed with patrons outside. More than 80 protestors from the Seattle Solidarity Network, also known as SeaSol, picketed outside of Borracchini's Bakery in the Rainier Valley as part of a planned protest against the owner, Remo Borracchini.
Hundreds of customers arrived in advance of the protest and launched a counter demonstration. Supporters wore red, white and green ribbons in honor of the bakery's Italian roots.
Fights broke out among patrons and protestors after a customer offered cookies to one of the demonstrators, a bakery employee said. According to witnesses, a female member of SeaSol hit the plate of cookies out of his hands then slapped him during an argument, and the man pushed her to the ground.
A spokesperson for SeaSol said the woman was punched in the face, but KIRO-FM was not able to corroborate that statement. She received medical attention at the scene, but no arrests were made.
Seattle Solidarity launched a campaign against the bakery after a former employee claimed she was not allowed to take breaks during her nine years with the business. They have threatened to increase their involvement if the bakery does not pay her $7,901. The group has provided three letters they say are from former employees who describe a similar work environment.
Remo Borracchini and current employees have denied the group's accusations. A store manager showed KIRO-FM surveillance video of the employee taking breaks.
“Are you ANOTHER one who doesn’t think Turkeys can fly?”
There is only one Turkey.
Yes, turkeys can fly, but they seem to prefer to mill about, and they don’t soar through the air. I saw a few in a field this past Friday, wandering among new wheat.
Les Nessman should have checked to see if frozen turkeys could fly, though.
;>
I have known a lot of people because they were desperate for a job (single moms) put up with a lot on a job that was not right and could, and should have got the employer sued. Yes 9 years is way too long and she should have said something before now. At least if she was fired after complaining after a year she could have got unemployment and sued again for being fired.
Oh it matters. It just means there is something more to this than a break. She has another gripe. I suspect she is unhappy she is not the owner.
You know there should be more than just video. What about her time cards? Should she have not clocked out for breaks? We always had too. Some employers have to keep time cards for about 5 years. Others I don’t know.
“Remo Borracchini and current employees have denied the group’s accusations. A store manager showed KIRO-FM surveillance video of the employee taking breaks.”
Mr. Scrooge, as a boss I don't consider my employees break time stealing.
The FLSA covers that ~ if there's a break. If there's no break, lunch doesn't count as a break.
State laws regulate breaks otherwise except OSHA regulates the use of the toilets as well as bowel movements. They wrote a memo on the matter grudgingly, but finally someone had to do it. It says, in general, folks take different amounts of time to use the toilet and management doesn't have the power to change that amount of time ~ which varies by individuals, and BTW, keep the toilets clean!
If you have ever been required to clock out for an official company break you can sue them for lots of money and make their lives miserable.
That doesn't mean you had to be given a break anyway ~ as a matter of labor law, but as OSHA has reminded us, as a matter of occupational safety (gotta' keep those floors clean and nice, no surprise slick spots eh), you do get to go to the toilet to do whatever it is you do in there.
There is a difference between LABOR LAW and OHSA ~ although they sometimes use the same words.
Don’t think the baker will be posting those for us to view ....:o)
Not all employers require one to checkout on the time cards ... When they go on break. But some do as you stated.
Stay safe....
What? They can’t?
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