WE ARE A WORKER CENTER ORGANIZING FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND DIGNITY FOR ALL.
VICTORIES
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Fidel and his team won $17,648 for 344 hours they spent painting at Trinity Heights luxury apartments in East Nashville. “When you are in this kind of struggle, there comes a point when you are no longer fighting for money, but for dignity. My message to other workers fighting for dignity is to not give up. Keep fighting, and let’s fight together.”
Fidel, worker at Trinity Heights luxury apartments -
Won $17,648 for work completed at Trinity Heights luxury condos in East Nashville. “Over the course of 7 months there were days we would feel discouraged and we thought we weren’t going to win. We didn’t have answers. It was not until we started organizing the actions and applying pressure to the developer when we started to see changes in their way of responding to us. They became open to negotiate with us.”
Rolando, worker at Trinity Heights luxury apartments -
Paid $513.20 for Margarita, Paid $484.94 for Isabel
Isabel: We are doing this action so that our voices are heard because like us, there are many other housekeeping workers who have not been paid and who do not demand their pay due to fear and lack of information.
Margarita: If you support us, this could spark a drastic change against wage theft.
Margarita and Isabel, hotel workers at Hilton Garden Inn -
Paid over $3,000 from Diversity Commercial Painting after fighting since February
“After insisting so long to that man that he pay me, he did finally pay, but it’s thanks to everyone who stood with me that I won back my wages.”
Ana, worker at Diversity Commercial Painting -
Paid $3,000 for nearly eighty hours of painting he said he completed in Oct. 2018
“I am also asking [Capital City Construction] to hire contractors who fulfill their financial obligations to their workers,” said Valentín after getting his check.
Valentin, worker at Capital City Construction -
After 5/19 MCRU Budget action: “I depend on the bus system to get to work and get to all the things I do, to get to the National Federation of the Blind meetings, everything I do in the community. If they cut back, how am I supposed to get where I need to go?”
Sheila, member of Music City Riders United -
After 5/19 MCRU Budget action: “People are suffering. We have to get to work, we have to get to school, and do other things. We cannot get around the city if we don’t have fully funded MTA. It’s not fair, it’s unacceptable. Our mayor said he wanted a city with equity. This is not equity, not for those of us suffering. We don’t want to walk a mile to the bus; we want to be able to go out and get to the bus safe. We shouldn’t have to decide between walking a mile to the bus stop or service ending before I get off of work.”
Angelique, organizer with MCRU -
“We won because we’re all in this together, we’re not alone, we can rely on the support of each other at Worker’s Dignity. Together we can accomplish anything,”
Martha, worker at Target/Diversified -
Paid in full, over $2,000
“When you join your fellow workers, you are no longer alone,” says Richar. ”You are backed up by others. Conquer your fear and join! When I joined Workers’ Dignity I was no longer alone, and here is the result – a success!” Richar’s fight was a family affair. His daughter Vanessa, who also joined Workers’ Dignity and co-led with her father during the months-long campaign, shares “on behalf of my dad and our family, thank you to everyone at Workers’ Dignity and in the community who stood with my dad throughout everything until this victory.”
Richar, worker at TJ Maxx -
Jenifer, a member of Workers’ Dignity, had announced a public protest at the Regal movie theater on Thompson Lane and was paid double the amount of her total wages owed just days before the planned protest! The protest was planned after months of attempts at negotiation. According to Jenifer, when she went to demand her wages from the contracting company, TX Empire Group, they told her that they never pay their workers their first week’s wages if they do not continue working past their first week. Jenifer explained that this victory was possible “thanks to the members of Workers’ Dignity who supported me. I encourage all workers who have had wage theft happen to them to speak up and defend their rights. Don’t be intimidated by bosses who mistreat you.”
Jenifer, worker for Regal Cinemas Hollywood 27 -
Just two days before a planned protest. Claudia was paid her full wages for work performed for a housekeeping agency at the Dallas on Elliston, a high-end apartment complex in Midtown Nashville. “Thanks to all the members, allies, and volunteers who supported this fight,” said Claudia. “Especially to all the advocates who always stood with us. Thanks to all the donors who with their contributions make Workers’ Dignity a strong and growing organization.”
Claudia, housekeeper at Dallas on Elliston -
“My employers at Nana’s Diner tried to exploit me because I am Latino,” explained Mario. “They were abusive people to work for. I am very happy to finally be paid and I’m glad to be a part of Workers’ Dignity. I know Ms. Caggiano has learned a few things now.”
Mario, former cook at Nana’z Diner
What We've Been Up To
- 21 Dec
Housing Coops are coming to Nashville! Lessons on Organizing for Power in the Deep South
Read moreDecember 20, 2022 A year ago, when Workers’ Dignity and the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development started to engage decision-makers around funding affordable housing projects
Comments off - 20 Dec
Workers are Human; Jobs Shouldn’t Kill!
Read moreDecember 6, 2022 “My teenage son lost his life, dreams, and ambitions. He fell from the highest floor of this hotel’s construction site and lost
Comments off - 27 Dec
It’s Ashley, the one who’s been asking for your money this month 👋
Read moreDecember 27, 2020 Hey y’all, it’s Ashley, the person that’s been asking you to donate all month. One of my favorite things about my role
Comments off - 20 Dec
Three reasons we started a Workers’ Compensation Education and Organizing Program this Fall
Read moreDecember 20, 2020 Working in construction in Nashville means risking your life everyday, then being left to fend for yourself when you are injured. “I
Comments off - 11 Dec
Support workers who build this city: An in-depth look at our Commercial Construction Campaign
Read moreDecember 11, 2020 Twenty worksites. Hundreds of workers. There have been (at least) 20 reported COVID-19 outbreaks at construction sites in Nashville. Construction has been
Comments off - 03 Dec
Applications open for Workers’ Dignity *paid* youth fellowships!
Read moreDecember 3, 2020 This summer we marched to defend Black Lives and defund the police in some of the largest marches in Nashville’s recent movement
Comments off - 01 Dec
Donate to our Year End Fund Drive: See how we’re prepared for 2021
Read moreDecember 1, 2020 Today is #GivingTuesday, and the launch of our Annual Year-End Fund Drive. It’s a time when we come to ask for your
Comments off - 11 Nov
Victory!!! 👏👏 MNPS School Board takes a stand for construction worker rights
Read moreWorkers claim victory after MNPS School Board takes a stand for construction worker rights, abstains from contracting low-road construction company. “I think you all know
Comments off - 04 Nov
We stop fascism through mass movements. Only we free us.
Read moreNovember 4, 2020 Politicians won’t save us. Electoral politics have never given us the change we need. It never will. We vision a world where
Comments off - 18 Sep
We raised $42,561! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
Read moreSeptember 18, 2020 We did it! We raised $42,561 to celebrate our 10th Anniversary! Thank you to the 226 people who donated and to everyone that helped
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