Across the country, millions of workers are routinely paid less than the minimum wage, denied overtime pay, and retaliated against for speaking up or trying to organize. This illegal practice, commonly known as wage theft, has reached epidemic proportions during the last decade and has had devastating impact on those workers who are least able to afford the theft of their hard earned wages.

For the first time in many, many years, a worker friendly White House and Labor Department provides the opportunity to address this problem at its roots. At the same time, innovative local, regional and national alliances are emerging, bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including immigrant worker centers, faith and community-based organizations, labor unions, government enforcement agencies, legal advocates, funder allies, and, when possible, employers to address this increasing problem. These efforts have the potential to develop replicable and far reaching models for wage enforcement across our country and economy, from construction and food manufacturing to restaurants, domestic work and janitorial services, to name just a few.

Panelists:

• Kim Bobo, Executive Director, Interfaith Worker Justice
• Ana Avendano, Associate General Counsel of the AFL-CIO
• Andrew Friedman, Co-Director of Make the Road New York

Please join us for a lively discussion about this important issue affecting our economy and communities, and the groundbreaking work being done. Please email Sherita Jackson at NFG to register for the June 2009 Teleconference Series at nfg@nfg.org. This call is for funders only. There is no charge to participate.

Sponsored by NFG’s Working Group on Labor and Community and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees.