On Tuesday, a small but vocal crowd gathered outside Taqueria Oyameles on Ferry Street in New Haven to celebrate two recent labor‑rights victories for immigrant workers. The rally was organized by Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA), a local immigrant‑rights and labor‑organizing group.
Labor victories highlighted
ULA lead organizer John Lugo told attendees that the community must not let fear of federal immigration enforcement silence workers’ voices. He emphasized that the two cases represent concrete wins for migrant employees who have faced intimidation and exploitation.
The first case involved a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dispute against the downtown restaurant 80 Proof American Kitchen and Bar. Filed in 2024 by a former employee, the case examined claims of discriminatory discharge, coercive questioning, and intimidation. The parties reached a confidential settlement, the terms of which were not disclosed.
The second case centered on a complaint filed in 2023 by Carolina Sánchez against Taqueria Oyameles. The state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) ruled in January that the restaurant owed Sánchez $77,680 for sexual harassment, wage theft, and duress. When the owners failed to appear before the CHRO, the commission sued them in civil court. Judge James Graham ordered the owners to pay the judgment by Oct. 1.
Community response and next steps
“If Taqueria Oyameles doesn’t pay by Oct. 1, ULA will encourage a community boycott,” Lugo warned. Sánchez has since returned to Guatemala with her daughters, and an employee who declined to be named asked reporters to leave the restaurant during the interview.
ULA has a long history of exposing wage‑theft practices in New Haven businesses. Lugo called for local ordinances that would curb such abuses, including the removal of business permits for repeat violators. He announced that ULA will launch a campaign next month targeting twenty additional establishments accused of labor violations.
While acknowledging the ongoing federal immigration enforcement pressure, Lugo stressed that protecting workers’ rights remains a priority. “We are on the side of the migrant community and we will not allow ICE tactics to undermine workplace safety,” he said.
Broader implications
Community organizer CJ, a Black and Brown member of ULA, echoed Lugo’s concerns, noting that wage theft disproportionately affects immigrant laborers. She urged city and state officials to adopt livable wages, pointing to Governor Ned Lamont’s upcoming minimum‑wage increase from $16.94 to $17.48 on Jan. 1.
The rally concluded with a chant of “¿Qué queremos?” – “¡Justicia!” – underscoring the community’s demand for immediate justice and fair treatment for all workers.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
