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December 2013

Mobilize Union Power to Get Their Jobs Back Now

NYC Labor:
Defend Fired Domino’s Workers!

Candlelight vigils and Democrats cannot defeat a multi-billion-dollar corporation like Domino’s. NYC labor must mobilize its power to get delivery workers’ jobs back. (Internationalist photos)

DECEMBER 10 – On Thursday, December 5, there was a “fast food workers strike” in a number of cities around the country. This time, in comparison to past protests, there was a greater participation of the workers themselves, who run a big risk of reprisals for daring to stand up for their rights. Just that happened in New York City, where two days later two dozen delivery workers of a Domino’s Pizza outlet in Upper Manhattan were fired for showing solidarity with a victimized worker.

After an initial protest on Sunday, almost 200 people showed up on Monday, December 9, to picket the Domino’s location on 181st Street in Washington Heights. The Internationalist Group was there leafleting and holding up signs defending the fired workers. In speaking with the fired delivery workers, who were there in force and in uniform, they told us that on Thursday workers from a nearby McDonald’s and other fast food outlets in the area came by and they all went together to a 4 p.m. rally downtown at Foley Square. Pizza deliveries would have to wait.

On Saturday, as it was getting busy in the afternoon, the manager ordered one of the workers who had gone to the protest to wash dishes instead of making deliveries where he could get tips. When he complained that this was unfair, since delivery men are only paid $5.65 an hour, well below the unlivable minimum wage of $7.25, on the assumption that they will receive tips, the boss told him to get out: “The door is open.” When the other workers stood with their comrade, they were given the boot, too.

Workers said this kind of arbitrary reprisal was not uncommon at the store. Not only is it illegal to pay employees much less than the minimum wage for working without tips, it often happened that after they punched out the boss ordered them to stay and clean up the kitchen off the clock. The fired workers also complained that since Domino’s charges $1.65 per delivery, many customers think that this goes to the workers and don’t tip. But in fact the boss pockets that money.

At the protest Monday there were a number of Dominican community organizations from Washington Heights. Democratic elected officials also spoke, including City Councilman Ydanis Rodríguez and State Assemblywoman Gabriela Rosa. They reported that when they called Domino’s operations manager, they wouldn’t even pick up the phone. The Internationalist leaflet warned that appeals to the Democrats, who like Republicans represent the interests of Wall Street and capital, are a dead end and workers must rely on their own strength.

A call was made at the protest to boycott this Domino’s outlet, which is certainly justified. But it is difficult to implement effectively as 95% of their business is call-ins. Demonstrators vowed “we will be back” every day this week. But to win, it is necessary to back up this group of courageous workers with the power of the New York City labor movement, together with the millions of Latino, African American and Asian working people. “New York is a union town,” and “union power” people chanted on December 5. So now is the time to use that power.

One of those who voiced support for the Domino’s workers at the sidewalk rally on Monday was Mahoma López of the Hot and Crusty Workers Association, which last year won a union contract with union control of hiring, a vital demand for these immigrant workers. At a key point in the struggle, a labor rally was held bringing out representatives of the TWU Local 100, AFSCME DC 37, CWA Local 1101, PSC, UFCW Local 1500, LIUNA Local 78 and delegates and activists from other unions to show that the Hot and Crusty workers were not alone.

A strong display of union power is vital now. The struggle to win the jobs back for the fired Domino’s workers could be a spark that turns the fast food workers’ “strikes” into a reality. It is high time for militant, mass, independent workers action! ■