July 29, 2008
Metro NY
(Metro/AZ)
4.56 MBMANHATTAN - Owners of the popular Upper East Side eatery, Trattoria Pesce Pasta, agreed to pay nearly $137,000 in back wages to restaurant workers, Department of Labor officials announced yesterday.
The state agency investigated, after workers protested in front of the restaurant in December with community group Make the Road New York. One of the protesting workers, Rodrigo Vazquez, worked 13 hours a day, six days a week in the kitchen, but was never paid overtime. He finally left the job a year ago after 12 years there. He hadn't realized, he was owed money, until he joined Make the Road and learned about workers' rights, Vazquez said.
The restaurant owes Vazquez $23,000 in back wages. The restaurant has so far paid workers $60,000 according to DOL officials.
A worker, who answered the phone at the eatery, said, nothing had been missing from his pay checks. No one from restaurant management was available to comment.
