MIKE SHEEHAN Chief Executive Officer

BRIAN McGRORY Editor

T h e

B o s t o n

de

r
Officer

ELLEN CLEGG Editor, Editorial Page, interim

CHRISTINE S. CHINLUND Managing Editor/News

W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

G l o b e

JACK OHMAN

Editorial

City halls
battle
City halls
mustmust
joinjoin
battle
against
against restaurant wage theft
restaurant wage theft

Editorial Page, interim

Editor/News

of Boston and Somerville will not help a sin

ess than a year after the owners of
gle worker if the mandates arent funded or
Bukhara Indian bistro in Jamaica
Plain were accused of stealing near enforced.
ess than alyyear
after
thetheir
owners
of
Inspired
by the
Worldnocase,
In Somerville,
as ofOne
November,
busi Somerville
$200,000
from
employees,
nesses
had
lost
permits
thanks
to
the
allegedly
making
them
work
weeks
without
Bukhara Indian bistro in Jamaica
with the backing of Mayor wage
Joe Curtatone
theft ordinance, which passed in the sum
pay, city officials approved the restaurants
Plain
weretoaccused
near passed
ordinance
last
that allows
mer
of 2013. an
Officials
there seem
to year
have no
upgrade
a coveted of
fullstealing
liquor license.
means
to root
out violators
they
that existing
Stealing wages
is rampant
ly $200,000
from from
theirworkers
employees,
the city
to deny
permits
or note
revoke
in the restaurant industry, according to fed the attorney generals office is in the process
allegedly making
them work
weeks
ones
for aoperators
toNo
owe back pay.
creating
database offound
citations.
eral investigations
and
so is without
escaping any of
launch
date
is set. Martin Walsh followed suit
real consequences.
Cuisine, the
pay, city officials
approved One
the World
restaurants
Boston
Mayor
Boston also has no mechanisms set up
company that operates Bukhara as well as
upgrade to a coveted full liquor license.
this fall, issuing an executive order thatI WAS
saystaken aback by th
yet to enforce its law, such as surprise in
Diva in Somerville and Dosa Factory in
toward castigation of R
wages from
workers
is ram-and
vendorsatwill
havefinancial
to certify
compliance
with
spections
job sites,
audits,
or pe
settled
with its workers,
and Somerville will Stealing
not help aCambridge,
sin
Giuliani in the Globe ed
riodic
payroll
reviews.
There
has
been
no
now
in the according
heart of one of
if the mandates
arent
or the restaurant
pant
in funded
the restaurant
industry,
to
state and federal wage laws in order to about
re- reaction to the m
funding so far earmarked for compliance
Bostons ostensibly most progressive neigh
of two police officers in
federal investigations
and so
is escaping
ceive citywork,
contracts
and
most
no additional
hires
an importantly
borhoods is humming
again.
York ( Americas mayo
erville, as of November, no busi
nounced,
and,
pressed
for
details
Stealing
from
workers

by,
the flames, Dec. 23).
any
real
consequences.
One
World
Cuisine,
for
restaurants

instructs
the
licensing
lost permits thanks to the wage
SERVICE NOT
Mayor Giuliani was r
on how enforcement will be
for example, withholding tips,
ance, which passed
in
the
sum
the company
thattooperates
Bukhara as INCLUDED
well
board todone,
takecity
wage
theft violations intoon point when he said t
officials say that while
failing
pay overtime, or doc
3. Officials there seem to have
no
these
in
as
Diva
Somerville
andDosa
FactoryThis
in is the latest
consideration
before
issuing,
or murders were a d
the mayor
is committed
to renewing,
bat
toring
has devas
oot out violators
theyin
note
that timecards
result of the policies of N
stallment of a Globe
tling
wage
theft,
no
final
deci
tating
consequences
for
employ
y generals office
is in the process
Cambridge,
settled with its workers, and
now seriesrescinding
city licenses.
York Mayor Bill de Blas
editorial
on
sions have been made for even
a database of citations. No ees whose financial lives are dis
DEVAL
PATRICKS
torney General Eric Hol
workers in the foodWalshs
the
restaurant
in
the
heart
of
one
of
Bostons
executive
order,
which
goes
what part of City Hall will over
rupted; even if back wages are
e is set.
HYDROPOWER LEGACY
and President Obama.
service industry. Previ
seeon
theJan.
effort.1, is one of the first in the
eventually
paid, workers
may
also has no mechanisms
up
ostensiblysetmost
progressive
neighborhoods
is
into
effect
While Ismaaiyl Brins
ous
articles,
available
put away for life after
at least
I WAS taken
aback by the un
Other
labor rules in Boston
miss rent payments
or struggle
rce its law, such as surprise in
was, without a doubt, u
at bostonglobe.com/
19 arrests,
he was,
by
his own a so-called wage bond,
toward castigation of Rudy
humming again.
country
to
require
show that very little will improve
to pe
feed their families in the
at job sites, financial audits, or
anced and should have
opinion, admission,
explore hupushed
over the
Giuliani in the Globe editorial
until
the city starts
paying
meantime.
Enforcement
efforts
Stealing
from
workers

by,
for
exammeaning
companies
must
alsoatten
show they
oll reviews. There has been no
man trafficking,
tip
top by the
rhetoric of antipo
about reaction to the murders
tion.
The city law that requires
by the attorney
generals
office in New
ping, fastlice
food
wages,
far earmarked
for compliance
demonstrators.
The New
two
policeto
officers
ple,
withholding
tips,of failing
pay overtime,
have
adequate
funds to pay workers fully
50
percent
and federalYork
agencies,
with
their
and
unions.
work, no additional hires an
York demonstrations should of total work hours be
( Americas mayor fans
orpressed
doctoring
timecards
has
devastating
duration
contract.
The
performed
bytheir
Boston
residents,
limited
resources,
clearly
have
nounced, and,
for details
have for
beenthe
permitted,
but deof
the flames,
Dec.
23).
INcity
FIVE
GOP immigration
Next:
Changing
25
percent
minorities,
and
10
Blasiomayors
should have
keptworked
the
Mayor Giuliani
right
myths with
(Opinion,
Dec. 15),
on how enforcement
will befallen
consequences
forshort.
employees
whosewas
financial
staff
closely
unions
and
diners habits
percent
onBoston
publicly
But city on
officials
have power
protests in one area
in thewomen
city
point when
he said that
University law profes
done, city officials say that while
lives are disrupted;
even
ifcan
back
wages
are
other
worker
advocates
toprojects
craft
theaddresses
execu-im
funded
construction
ful leverage:
They
make
the
instead
of allowing
roaming
these
murders
were
a direct
sor
Laila
Hlass
the mayor is committed to bat
tolarge
block
traffic
and
as went
result
of
theapolicies
of New
portant
from a par
and
private
projects
largely
un but
treatment
of
workers
much more
central
eventually
paid,
workers
may
miss
rent
pay- crowds
tive
order,
and
soliciting
that issues,
input
likely
tling wage theft,
no final deci
saultheeded
police. If
Mayor
Giuliani
York Mayor Bill
de Blasio,
At
tisan standpoint. Comprehen
under
the
Menino administration
part of the permitting
process
for restau
sions have been
made
for
even
ments or struggle
to feed
their families
in
strengthened
it.city
charge,
the
situaago, when
General
Eric
sive
immigration
reform can
untilin
about
four
years
coun
rants. Sometorney
municipalities
in Holder,
Greater Bos had been
what part of City Hall will over
would Ayanna
have been
much
and President
Obama. But the tion cilors
only
be accomplished
the
meantime.
Enforcement
efforts
While
the
Somerville
andthrough
Pressley
and
Mike
Ross
began
ton
are
moving
in
that
direction.
see the effort.
different.
While
Ismaaiyl
Brinsley
bipartisanship, not through
to
press
the
issue.
real
test
will
be
whether
they
put
real
re
Other labor
Boston generals
byrules
the in
attorney
officeaand
Boston
laws both
apply
was, without
doubt, unbal
seeing
whichto
sideall
cantypes
score
CLEMENT
E. WALSH
Data
about building
sites across
Boston
sources into policing an industry that has
show that very little will improve
anced
andlimited
should have
been
the
mostreach
points. could
Bourne
federal
agencies,
with
their
reof
businesses,
their
is now available online and regularly updat
proven adept at skirting other labor protec
until the city starts paying atten
Hlass offers no solution
ed. And sincehave
2009,an
minority
participation
tions.have fallen short.
tion. The citysources,
law that requires
clearly
outsized
beotherimpact
than that on
Republican
is up nearly 20 percent, and the
portionoffor
50 percent of total work hours be
members
Congress
But cityInspired
officials
have
ofdoubled,
those who
work in food are the
women hashalf
nearly
according
by the
One World case, Somerville
performed by Boston residents,
bad guys to
and must submit to
director
of thehardly
Labor
Resource
with the
backing
powerful
leverage:
They
canof Mayor Joe Curtatone Susan Moir,
service.
While
the that
only
the views
shesector
and others
25 percent minorities,
and
10
Center
at
UMass
Boston.
Transparency

passed
an
ordinance
last
year
that
allows
espouse.
This
is
not a helpful
percent women
on publicly
make
the treatment of workguilty of wage violations, restaurants
means developers cant make excuses.
Theirour polarized
the city to deny permits or revoke existing
position when
funded construction projects
ers
a much
part
are among
the worst
offenders.
politicians
biparti
competitors
are meeting
the goals.
Why advocate
arThe US
ones forcentral
operators
found to owe back pay.
private projects
went
largely more
un
sanship
but
practice the oppo
ent
they? Moir said.
But it takes
political
Boston Mayor
Martin
der the Menino
ofadministration
the permitting
process
for Walsh followed suit
Department
of Labor
recently
released
a
site.
this fall, issuing an executive order that says will first.
t four years ago, when city coun
restaurants.vendors
Some will
municiof workforce
data
from
New
JERRY
HARTKE
The upsidesurvey
for workers,
if these latest
have to certify compliance with
nna Pressley and Mike Ross began
Lancaster
wage laws are enforced,
is tangible:
In one that found
state andBoston
federal wage laws in order to re
palities in Greater
York and
California
e issue.
ceive city contracts and most importantly case alone this year, a federal judge deter
out building sites
across
Boston
are moving for
in restaurants
that direc- instructs the licensing
minimum-wage violations
mined that Wards Cleaning Service, Inc.,
lable online and regularly updat
tion.participation
But theboard
realtotest
which,
across
restaurants
and all
ho industries,
takewill
wage theft violations into con which serves some 85
nce 2009, minority
tels
in
the
greater
Boston
area,
owed
more
sideration
before
issuing,
renewing,
or
re
y 20 percent, and
the portionthey
for put real
be whether
amounted to more than
than $1 million in back pay and damages to
scinding city licenses.
s nearly doubled, according to
resources into policing
$20 million
149 lowwage employees working
as dishestimated in
r, director of the Labor ResourceWalshs executive order, which goes into
washers, janitors, and housekeepers.
Inves
Jan.
1, is one of the first in the
AS A firstgeneration
Filipino
UMass Boston.an
Transparency
industry effect
that on
has
provlost income
tigators discovered that the companys
country to require a socalled wage bond,
American,man
I share the disap
elopers cant make excuses. Their
en adept at skirtingcompanies
other must also show they
intheeach
pointment
Bidesstate
family
agement avoided overtime payments
by of
di
rs are meeting the goals. Whymeaning
ar
with
the
limited
nature
of
recting
workers
to
falsify
timecards
or
use
have
adequate
funds
to
pay
workers
fully
labor
protections.
per
week
Moir said. But it takes political
President
Obamas reprieve
multiple timecards with different
names.
for the duration of their city contract. The
werewhich
mostap
from deportation,
Wards also allegedly paid employees
with
mayors staff worked closely with unions
ide for workers, if these latest
Pedestrians cross the
plies
to cash
millions
common
in
checks made out to fake names
or in
to of illegal im
and other worker advocates to craft the ex
are enforced, is tangible: In one
migrants.
(For
legal
immi
avoid labor laws. (The firm noted this week
ecutive order, and soliciting that input like
this year, a federal judge deter
grants, a longrestaurants
path to Ameri
that the violations cited were identified and
ly strengthened it.
Wards Cleaning Service, Inc.,
ca, Page A1,and
Dec. 13).
hotels. A
patrick halted
sandri
boston
infor
earlythe
2012,
sayingGlobe
three quarterly
es some 85 restaurants and hoWhile the Somerville and Boston laws
Obamas action does not
independent audits since the judgment
last
both apply to all types of businesses, their
IT WOULD
be a great lo
greater Boston area, owed more
speed up the
process for
rela
spring have found the company
is
in
full
reach
Boston
if
the
Northern
llion in back pay and damages
to could have an outsized impact on be
tives of legal immigrants, un
compliance with wage laws.) less they are a spouse Bridge
half of those who work in food service.
age employees working as dish
or chilwere torn down.
closes
Northern Avenue
Even moredren
troubling:
While hardly the only sector guilty of
of the person here
legal
anitors, and housekeepers. Inves
Bridge, Metro, Dec. 19
This was not the
wage violations, restaurants are
ly. Peabody

L
oin battle

Unfair criticism

wage theft

L et t er s t o t h e E di t o r

Unfair criticism of Giuliani

Immigration
reform needs
bipartisanship

Kin of legal
immigrants
need help

Dont destroy N

T h e

B o s t o n

de

G l o b e

W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 4

JACK OHMAN

separate study previously suggested 43 persan Moir, director of the Labor Resource Cencent of restaurant workers report not being
ter at UMass Boston. Transparency means
r
paid overtime that they were owed under the
developers cant make excuses. Their competOfficer
law.
itors are meeting the goals. Why arent they?
Editorial Page, interim
But the efforts of Boston and Somerville
Moir said. But it takes political will first.
Editor/News will not help a single worker if the mandates
The upside for workers, if these latest
arent funded or enforced.
wage laws are enforced, is tangible: In one
In Somerville, as of November, no busicase alone this year, a federal judge deternesses had lost permits thanks to the wage
mined that Wards Cleaning Service, Inc.,
theft ordinance, which passed in the sumwhich serves some 85 restaurants and hotels
mer of 2013. Officials there seem to have no
in the greater Boston area, owed more than
means to root out violators they note that
$1 million in back pay and damages to 149
the attorney generals office is in the process
low-wage employees working as dishwashof creating a database of citations. No launch
ers, janitors, and housekeepers. Investigators
date is set.
discovered that the companys management
and Somerville will Boston
not help aalso
sin has no mechanisms set up
avoided overtime payments by directing
if the mandates arent funded or
yet to enforce its law, such as surprise inspecworkers to falsify timecards or use multiple
erville, as of November,
tions at no
jobbusi
sites, financial audits, or periodic
timecards with different names. Wards also
lost permits thanks to the wage
payroll
reviews.
allegedly paid employees with checks made
ance, which passed
in the
sum There has been no funding
3. Officials there
seem
to have no for compliance work, no
so far
earmarked
out to fake names or in cash to avoid labor
oot out violators they note that
additional hires announced, and, pressed for
laws. (The firm noted this week that the
y generals office is in the process
violations cited were identified
and
halted in
a database ofdetails
citations.on
Nohow enforcement will be done, city
DEVAL
PATRICKS
Unfair
criticism
of
Giuliani
e is set.
LEGACY
officials say that while the mayor is commitearly 2012, saying three HYDROPOWER
quarterly indepenalso has no mechanisms set up
put away
foraudits
life after since
at least the judgment last spring
Itheft,
WAS taken
aback by
the un
ted
battling
no final
decisions
dent
rce its law, such
asto
surprise
in wage toward
19 arrests, he was, by his own
castigation of Rudy
Immigration
at job sites, financial
audits,made
or pe for even
have been
what
City admission,
havepushed
foundover
thethecompany is in full compliance
Giuliani
in thepart
Globe of
editorial
reform needs
oll reviews. There has been no
top by
the rhetoric
oflaws.)
antipo
about
reaction to the murders
Hall
will
oversee
the
effort.
with
wage
far earmarked for compliance
lice demonstrators. The New
of two police officers in New
bipartisanship
Other
labor rules
in (Boston
show
work, no additional
hires an
Even more
troubling: This was not the
York demonstrations
should
York
Americas
mayorthat
fans
nounced, and,
pressed
forwill
details
have been permitted, but de
the flames,
Dec.city
23). starts
IN FIVE
GOP immigration
very
little
improve
until the
Peabody-based firms first
offense.
It was citBlasio should have kept the
Mayor Giuliani was right
myths (Opinion, Dec. 15),
on how enforcement will be
paying
requires
ed infor
violations
in 1993.
Technically,
protests
onesimilar
area in the
city
oncity
pointlaw
whenthat
he said
that
Boston
University
law profes
done, city officials
say attention.
that while The
instead
of
allowing
roaming
these
murders
were
a
direct
sor
Laila
Hlass
addresses im
the mayor is 50
committed
to bat
percent
of total work hours be performed
under both Boston and Somervilles
wage
crowds to block traffic and as
result of the policies of New
portant issues, but from a par
tling wage theft, no final deci
by made
Boston
residents, York
25 percent
laws,
could have
it for
sault theft
police. If
Mayorthat
Giuliani
Mayor Bill minorities,
de Blasio, At
tisan disqualified
standpoint. Comprehen
sions have been
for even
had been in charge, the situa
torney General Eric Holder,
sive immigration reform can
what part of and
City Hall
over women on publicly funded
10 will
percent
permits or city contracts.
If its president, Dation would have been much
and President Obama.
only be accomplished through
see the effort.
While
Ismaaiyl
Brinsleyproj- different.
through
construction projects and
large
private
vid Ward, had believed bipartisanship,
that stiffingnot
workers
Other labor rules in Boston
was, without a doubt, unbal
seeing which side can score
CLEMENT E. WALSH
ects
went
largely unheeded
under the Menicould have significant
financial
consequences
show that very
little
will improve
anced and should have been
the most points.
Bourne
until the cityno
starts
paying
atten
Hlass
offers no solution
administration until about four years ago,
for his business, would the
company
have
tion. The city law that requires
other than that Republican
cityhours
councilors
Ayanna Pressley and
been so cavalier to floutmembers
the rules
again are
and
50 percent ofwhen
total work
be
of Congress
the
performed byMike
Boston
residents,
bad guys and must submit to
Ross
began to press the issue.
again?
the views that she and others
25 percent minorities, and 10
Data about building sites across Boston
Walsh and Curtatone
should
make
sure
espouse.
This is
not a helpful
percent women on publicly
position when
polarized
is nowprojects
available online and regularly updatfunded construction
their laws are strong, funded,
andour
enforced,
politicians advocate biparti
private projects
went
largely
un
ed. And since 2009, minority participation
to guarantee the answersanship
is no.butAtpractice
the very
the oppo
der the Menino administration
site.
is
up
nearly
20
percent,
and
the
portion
for
least
restaurant
workers
are
owed
that.
t four years ago, when city coun
JERRY HARTKE
nna Pressley and
Mike Ross
women
hasbegan
nearly doubled, according to SuLancaster

oin battle
wage theft

e issue.
out building sites across Boston
lable online and regularly updat
nce 2009, minority participation
y 20 percent, and the portion for
s nearly doubled, according to
r, director of the Labor Resource
UMass Boston. Transparency
elopers cant make excuses. Their
rs are meeting the goals. Why ar
Moir said. But it takes political

ide for workers, if these latest

are enforced, is tangible: In one
this year, a federal judge deter
Wards Cleaning Service, Inc.,
es some 85 restaurants and ho
greater Boston area, owed more
llion in back pay and damages to
age employees working as dish
anitors, and housekeepers. Inves

L et t er s t o t h e E di t o r

Kin of legal
immigrants
need help
AS A firstgeneration Filipino
American, I share the disap
pointment of the Bides family
with the limited nature of
President Obamas reprieve
from deportation, which ap
plies to millions of illegal im
migrants. (For legal immi
grants, a long path to Ameri
ca, Page A1, Dec. 13).
Obamas action does not
speed up the process for rela
tives of legal immigrants, un
less they are a spouse or chil
dren of the person here legal
ly.