Former Gourmet Heaven employees suing for unpaid wages
By Kainani Stevens
Former Gourmet Heaven employees and worker’s rights advocates joined together today outside of the store’s Weybosset Street location to make a call for action. Workers are suing Gourmet Heaven owner, Chung Cho, for over $100,000 in unpaid wages in Rhode Island Federal Court. Workers are citing extreme employee abuse and are claiming wage theft due to unpaid overtime.
“This is an attitude of impunity and lawlessness that we feel needs to be addressed right now,” said Michael Araujo, Policy Organizer for Restaurant Opportunities Centers United.
Roberto Quinilla, a former worker at this store, the hostile work environment.
“We would never get a break for lunch, only 15 minutes,” said Quinilla. “Then we would be forced to work 12 hour days, seven days a week.”
These types of allegations are nothing new to Chung Cho. Protesters flooded his Providence store back in February to protest unfair wages and mistreatment.
Cho was most recently found guilty in Connecticut of 43 employment violations and was ordered to pay $150,000 to former employees.
“We need a system that is inclusive, that is just and one that welcomes every worker,” said Araujo. “A system saying that if you work hard you will move forward.”
(C) WLNE/TV 2015
