September 14, 2016 — This September the LA Coalition Against Wage Theft gathered together member leaders, workers, community advocates, and organizers to review changes in the city since the passing of the landmark wage theft ordinance. Over 30 participants came together at the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance to review the powers of two new, local enforcement offices for wage and hour violations in the city and unincorporated county areas of Los Angeles. The Department of Business and Consumer Affairs and the Office of Wage Standards will be taking the lead in LA County and LA City, respectively.

The day kicked off with a icebreaker where attendees shared with each other how each person became involved in the 7 year wage theft campaign that passed the historical ordinance. Many were victims of wage theft themselves and experienced the difficult, cumbersome process to recovering wages at the state level–even when they had won their legal claims. 

Following the icebreaker, attendees participated in several discussions and a training on wage theft. The UCLA Labor Center lead participants through several different possible cases and scenarios of potential workplace violations to explore what office would be a worker’s best avenue to recover wages.

The Black Worker Center also lead attendees in a conversation about discrimination and the coalition’s role in moving forward citywide legislation to combat discrimination in Los Angeles. The Central American Resource Center and the Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance closed the day in a discussion about the future of the coalition where participants provide valuable feedback and suggestions in moving forward to make implementation as successful as possible. See the complete photo album. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend!