DC Worker Notches Win In Battle Against Wage Theft

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Oscar Ramirez’ holidays got considerably brighter last week when DC Jobs with Justice helped him collect a check for $2,914 for back wages. “This is a major victory in the battle against wage theft,” said JWJ DC’s Arturo Griffiths. Ramirez and four other workers worked on renovating the MLK Elementary School in the District earlier this year, but their paychecks from Hector Painting Services bounced and the subcontractor ignored the prevailing wage law. Jobs with Justice helped Ramirez and the other workers pursue the case, pushing the DC government to enforce the law. While Ramirez was “ecstatic and overwhelmed” to recover the money he earned from hard labor over several months, Griffiths said “the case is just the tip of the iceberg” and in addition to the other workers still owed money on this project, “wage theft is still rampant in our community.” – photo: community activists – led by DC Jobs with Justice – rallied in July against allegations of wage theft at a local eatery; photo by Adam Wright