Cleaning worker finds her voice and colleagues’ wages are lost no more

Source: Boston Globe

Nobody was supposed to see Gloria Rodriguez. She said she usually arrived around midnight for the overnight shift at a prominent Boston restaurant to scrub floors, tables, and toilets until they sparkled. By dawn, she was gone.

But once her paychecks failed to arrive on time - or bounced - Rodriguez suddenly became a public figure in an unusual campaign against the cleaning company Coverall and the restaurants she said they cleaned, Legal Sea Foods and the Cheesecake Factory. She told her story to churches, university students, state officials, and the media, and last month to the general counsel of Coverall cleaning company, who flew up from Florida to listen.

As a result, Coverall decided to donate $40,000 to two nonprofits that aided Rodriguez and other workers like her, Centro Presente and the Chelsea Collaborative. The groups said they will use the money to pay 18 workers their lost wages today at a press conference in Boston City Hall. Each nonprofit will get $5,000 as well.

“Many people thought it wouldn’t happen,’’ said Rodriguez at her home in Somerville. Rodriguez said she was owed $1,200 in lost wages; her husband, Rigoberto Cartagena, said he was owed more than $7,000.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/08/20/cleaning_worker_finds_her_voice_and_colleagues_wages_are_lost_no_more/

Aughh!

Big "Farmers" around here do that shit ---- IE 5,000 cows and 100 Non-documented mexicans to "milk" them, paid cash off the books.

These corporate thugs are the "SCUM OF THE EARTH"

Don't tell me, the workers are illegals - which is why the company thought they could pull this shit in the first place.

Fucking scumbags. I'll bet they vote Republican too.

not very nice things to say about Coverall. He had a very similar story so it's not isolated.

Looks like whoever the franchise owner was took the money and ran.

of course, the employer will then retaliate by calling Immigration..... :grr:

dg

When Ms. Rodrieguez and her co-workers get citizenship, they won't be hired any more (at least for this type of work) and a fresh crop of illegals will be "found" and used. The cycle will continue forever.

there is no such a cycle, most immigrations waves are a result of poverty or political instability in the immigrants country of origin not because they want to work as janitors.

willing to hire an illegal worker under the table who cannot complain about conditions.

The only thing that we're discussing is if that category of people includes those that are already here, or those who will replace them if they become legal.

The workers will always be exploited if they have no legal recourse. I'm not sure what the answer is, but we need to address it for the good of all.

There's no other way. And if we legalize all the currently illegal, they will just be replaced by someone else willing to jump the border and work for slave wages with zero rights.

They will keep doing this until we stop letting them.

Good question. I wonder what will happen to the thieving franchise owners.

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Sounds like this type of work is especially suited for that.

isn't going to last long. The predators, on the other hand, usually just walk away with a warning.

Coverall's going to change it's name shortly.

don't be afraid to give workers the rights they deserve.

I've known and worked with many, and seen far too much exploitation. This particular scam is common from construction to hotel work - especially when a sub-contractor is involved. The big companies can deny any collusion and get to pay far less for the work.

One company I worked for back in the day used to sponsor then "hold" their employees green cards. I nearly got fired when I opened the mail one day and simply handed one of my dishwasher's green card over to him. I was really happy for him, and couldn't, for the life of me, understand what the big deal was.

I didn't last long at that job, but I hope he took that green card and got a real job with real wages at a company that didn't ask him to work off the clock. And it wasn't just the illegals and immigrants they exploited. My cash drawer was consistently short $20 almost every shift, and I was responsible for making up the difference. Petty thievery, but they basically got me to work for free two hours every day.

By the way, has anyone been to Bread & Chocolate (DC area Bistro) lately? Great place.

are illegals. Their racism is showing clear. I have known many hispanics who have VISAs, are permanent residents, or even GASP, CITIZENS!!!!!!!!!!!

K&R!

the workers and the nonprofits decided to take their complaints public.

The nonprofits said they are distributing the checks today to workers in the amounts that they say they are owed.

“This is going to open the eyes of immigrant workers," said Centro Presente executive director Patricia Montes. “They’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute, they have to respect us.’"

Sweet...

Q3JR4.

Coverall should have stepped up and done the right thing at the atart. Modern day pirates is what they are. :mad: :kick: and R

You have these companies that go around and make janitorial contracts with major firms that don't want to actually hire anyone themselves to do the job. Then the company "sells" the janitorial contract to someone who doesn't even have to be a legal resident, and that person hires his undocumented relatives and friends to work under the table, doing the job.

The company that sets it all up charges an outrageous price for the contract, then they hang on even after the payments are made, sucking up 20% as an accounting expense for billing the building owner. It's a scam all around.

aviary.comhttp://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_hn2zt1

argh....it didn't work, sorry

Coverall North America, Inc

Coverall Cleaning Concepts
(Cna Holding Corporation* )
5201 Congress Ave # C275
Boca Raton, FL 33487-3609 (West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL Metro Area)
Phone: (561) 922-2500
Website: padlock icon Activate Links

The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.


The Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System SM Worldwide Network consists of:

* 10 International Master Licenses in Australia, Dominican Republic, Canada, (Vancouver and Toronto), Chile, Japan (Osaka and Tokyo), Korea, Thailand and Singapore.
* 3 International Territory Franchises in the Dominican Republic, Qatar and Kuwait.
* 48 Master Support Centers (Domestic)
* 29 Company-Owned Support Centers (Domestic)
* 9,000 Franchise Owners Worldwide

To request information about Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System SM complete the Express Request form provided below.


Mission Statement

To establish Coverall® as the #1 commercial cleaning franchise company worldwide.

ABOUT COVERALL CLEANING CONCEPTS®

Coverall Cleaning Concepts is one of the nation's leading commercial cleaning franchising companies with over 6,000 franchise owners worldwide servicing over 32,000 customers. Coverall® has more than 75 Regional Support Centers in the United States, along with international offices in Australia, Asia, Canada, and South America with plans for further expansion.

Our adherence to the following values is the core of Coverall's existence and the primary reason for our tremendous growth and success:

* Earn customer's satisfaction everyday
* Encourage creativity and innovation
* Treat all people fairly, honestly, and with respect
* Gain a reputation for unparalleled customer service
* Uphold the highest standards of ethics and integrity

Our goals make the difference: to be the best, to strive for excellence, to stand for quality. For that enduring commitment, we stand apart.

GROWTH POTENTIAL

Today, Coverall Cleaning Concepts®( is among the Top 200 Franchises in the nation, as ranked by Success Magazine. In 2001, Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 ranked Coverall as the Fastest Growing Commercial Cleaning Franchise Company and placed us among the top 3% of franchise operations in the United States.

What does this mean for you? Being part of the Coverall team means joining a company that has demonstrated consistent growth in an $80 billion recession-proof industry that continues to expand at the rate of 5 to 6 percent annually.

Recognized as a company committed to its people, to quality and to integrity, Coverall offers exciting opportunities for those who have a desire to achieve professional success and unlimited growth potential.

OUR BENEFITS

We offer health insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, 401K participation, educational reimbursement program, vacation days, personal days, float days and holidays.

JOIN OUR WINNING TEAM

From new college graduates, seasoned sales professionals, software experts to part-time workers, Coverall attracts a wide range of candidates because of its reputation for excellence, friendly work environment and great advancement opportunities.

We have an open-door policy. New ideas are always welcome and we continually encourage our team members to fully realize their potential. We give you the opportunity to expand your horizons, gain a wealth of knowledge, and help realize your career goals. At Coverall, the only limitation to how far you can take your career is yourself.

To view available positions or to get more information, please visit our website at www.coverall.com. Email monaa@coverall.com or fax 800-492-5044.

Looks like the franchise owner just decided not to pay.

they'll never tell. If they are legal, they won't want the hassle. This is what labor leaders and, for example, Cesar Chavez fought for beginning in the early 1960's. Worker exploitation. Still going on today, in a community near you.

I worked for a couple of these outfits in the 80's in Boston. Most of them are mob owned. Not only do they not pay their workers, they also exploit the women; put out or lose your job. Cleaners have access to your offices for about 5 hours a night and unless you are very careful your business and your personal life are wide open, If you try to treat your workers fairly you are out of a job. I could write a book!This is just the tip of the iceberg. Bravo Gloria...and watch your back.