"No one works for free", "Pay up or shut up" and "Everyone deserves to get paid" were just some of the signs on the sidewalk in front of the City Ale House last night, formerly the Hat City Ale House at 253 Main Street. Four employees, Suzanne Keseru, 29 of Danbury, Kim and Jason Danka, 29 and 28 from Southbury and Danbury and Chris Adams, 30 of Morris, started picketing on Monday, August 22, because the bar's owner, Ibolya Balazs owed them backpay for three-and-a-half months.
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Keseru's father is great friends with Balazs and he and his daughter thought working there would be great for everyone. All 4 employees apparently worked for free for almost 4 months, readying the bar. Such chores were getting the smoke out of the walls and ceiling after 6 years, scrubbing, painting, waxing the floors, installing carpeting and general manual labor.
The employees estimate they worked at least 1,000 hours with 200 logged in before opening, equalling $10,000 between them.
Balazs insisted she had no money, even though patrons were always in the bar drinking. According to Adams, she said, "You'll get paid when I have money." He said the brand new sign above the entrance was done at half price to help her out and when he got paid for materials and labor, the check bounced.
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They tried to reason with her and have her pay them at least $100 or $50 a week and she refused.
The group contacted the nearby U.S. Labor Department on West Street in Danbury a few weeks ago. The Agency said they will investigate the matter further and presently, the paperwork is on its way to the CT Labor Headquarters in Wethersfield.
From the comments I've recieved, no one really likes the new place and I wouldn't be surprised if they close their doors by this time next year. Trying to make a business like a bar work on Main Street is hard enough but don't expect ot attract any new patrons if your former employees picketing at the front of your bar and bad mouthing you in the press.
NOTE: Since writing this piece, I went down to the Ale House and did an interview with the picketing employees and I will post the story Saturday as they had alot to say!
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
