Boycott Cafe Goodfellas

Goodfellas has long history of wage theft, according to DOL

2011-04-21T08:23:00.003-04:00

Yesterday 40 people turned out to boycott against Goodfellas. We are asking Gerry Iannaccone to pay minimum wage, overtime, and stolen wages to 4 workers. But this is not the first time he has stolen from workers!

The Connecticut Department of Labor has released documents showing that:

Ten Goodfellas employees complained to the DOL about wage theft between 2007 - 2010. The DOL forced Gerry Iannaccone to pay $9,528 in stolen wages to those 10 employees.

What's more, the US Department of Labor (a separate agency) investigated another wage theft complaint in 2009, and forced Iannaccone to pay $7,000 to 3 former employees, according to US DOL spokesman.

Enough is enough! See press coverage of yesterday's protest on our PRESS PAGE.

Press Conference! Wed. April 20

2011-04-18T10:43:00.002-04:00

After 4 negotiations with the owner, he still refuses to pay the workers the $23,000 they are owed. He presented them with checks for less than 45% of what they were owed, and they refused.

He said he would never pay kitchen staff minimum wage and overtime, because "that's the way business works in America," and "all restaurant owners do it and get away with it."

We need to teach him a lesson: A change is coming to the restaurant industry in New Haven! We need you to join us on the picket line!

Press Conference & Protest:

Wednesday, April 20

5:00 - 6:00 pm

Outside Goodfellas, 758 State Street

Question? Call Unidad Latina en Acción: (203) 606-3484

Negotiations!

2011-03-16T10:52:00.004-04:00

After 3 months picketing Cafe Goodfellas, we have gotten the owner to sit down with us!

We had the first negotiation yesterday, and we will meet again next week.

What we are asking:
That he pay the four former workers the back wages they are owed: more than $23,000.
That he make and agreement with the New Haven Worker's Association to ensure that there will be no wage and hour violations in the future.

February 11th

2011-02-16T23:06:00.000-05:00

Journal Entry #5: The community has come out to show their solidarity with Cafe Goodfellas workers once again! Without police or owner harassment, the protesters peacefully walked the picket line.

Come out and join us next week!

February 4th

2011-02-05T22:47:00.001-05:00

Slow night for Cafe Goodfellas. Keep up the BOYCOTT!

Journal Entry #5: Goodfellas owes $23,000 to his workers.

This statement is enough to make the Greater New Haven Community recognize the need for a boycott of this restaurant. Calling all italian-food lovers, BOYCOTT CAFE GOODFELLAS. The owner refuses to pay his workers what they are owed in minimum wage and overtime. This is not the first incidence we have dealt with this issue at this restaurant. WHEN WILL THEY LEARN? The only way to teach them a lesson is to exercise our consumer rights at shopping and consuming responsibly. If you believe in conscious consumption, do not eat at Cafe Goodfellas!

January 28th

2011-02-05T22:40:00.000-05:00

The protest continues, every Friday at 6 PM.

Journal Entry #4: Another strong day, with new individuals and groups of people joining in solidarity at the picket line. Workers, community members, and organizations from as far as Hartford, CT chanted in front of Cafe Goodfellas. Some of the chants that make a big impact on the restaurant's clients, as they sat back in their chairs and ate their dinner.

"TAKE EXPLOITATION OFF THE MENU"

"OUR FAMILIES NEED TO EAT TOO!"

Thanks to Queer Liberation Front and MeCha Yale for supporting the campaign. All other organizations interested in sending people to the picket or collaborating in any other way, please contact us at boycottgoodfellas@gmail.com.

January 22nd, 2011

2011-02-04T21:52:00.002-05:00

We're Back!

Journal Entry #3: Back and stronger than ever! 30+ protesters from New Haven and surrounding areas arrive to show solidarity with restaurant workers in New Haven.

December 31st, 2010

2011-02-04T21:47:00.002-05:00

Our second demonstration in from of Cafe Goodfellas.

Journal Entry #2: Althuogh it is New Years Eve, ULA members keep up the weekly demonstrations in front of Cafe Goodfellas. The following is a description of the problems protesters encountered with New Haven Police on this evening in front of Cafe Goodfellas.

Statement of John Lugo for Internal Ethics and Values of New Haven Police Dept. In reference to police report #80196

On December 31 at 12:00 pm. I was one of the organizers for the New Haven Workers Association picket line against Goodfellas café, located at 759 State Street. We have a complaint against this restaurant for their continuous practice of not paying their workers. This was the second time that we organized this type of action against this particular place.

On December 31, 2010, we were doing our picket line and 15 minutes later a few police officers from the NHPD show up in several cars including a Van.

Sargent Anastasio (shield #403) and Officer Morris (shield #71) approached us and ask to stop our action. Sgt Anastasio ask for the person in charge and I replied that I was one of the organizers. Then he told me: “Lugo, let me speak with you.”

He called me aside and asked me what was going on. I explained to him our reason for doing the demonstration, and he stated that we already did make our point on the previous demonstration two weeks before. I explained that our group decided to hold this demonstration every week, because the owner of Goodfellas is a continuous violator of the labor laws in New Haven and currently owes four workers more than $23,000 and has ignored our request for these unpaid wages.

Then, Sgt Anastasio stated that if we continued doing this type of action that would destroy business and that would not be good for either the workers or the owners. He stated that he was ready to arrest us, but because we were behaving well he would not arrest us, but he was going to write a report.

He asked me to tell everybody to give him our names, addresses and phone numbers. He then stated that the owners of businesses of New Haven could create blacklist with our names and the worker’s names, and pass around this blacklist to other business owners so that workers who complained would be hired by no restaurants or businesses in New Haven. I replied that this sounded like a threat. He said that he was not threatening us, he was just saying that owners can get a copy of the police report through a Freedom of Information request and could use it against us. I said nothing but I was scared and disappointed that Sgt. Anastasio was telling me this, because it is his job to maintain public safety no to imply a threat against New Haven residents.

Also, the threat that he would arrest us the next time we appeared at the restaurant had no basis in the law. We were six people doing a quiet picket without blocking the sidewalk or business entrances. When we went to City Hall to inquire if we needed a permit, the City replied that we did not need a permit to have a moving picket line on the sidewalk.

When Sgt. Anastasio took the names, phone numbers and addresses of the protesters, threatened us with arrest although he had no legal basis, and made comments about a blacklist, he made it impossible for some protesters to return because they fear what the police officers will do. This infringes on our First Amendment right to peacefully assemble in a public place. This intimidation has no place in our democracy. It should not be the job of New Haven police to suppress dissent.

COME OUT IN SOLIDARITY WITH CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO PROTEST LEGALLY!

December 17th, 2010

2011-02-04T21:33:00.004-05:00

First Day of Goodfellas Protest and Boycott!

Journal Entry #1: Unidad Latina members arrive in front of Cafe Goodfellas this Friday evening to protest unpaid wage claims for four ex-workers of Goodfellas. We see that the restaurant is full of customers. The patrons of the restaurant are shocked as we begin to chant

"What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? NOW!"

"$23,000 owed to Goodfellas restaurant employees, Boycott Goodfellas until they pay their workers."

The Scene of the wage theft CRIME!

Asking for accountability

We have already sent a Demand Letter to the owners of the restaurant notifying them that the New Haven Workers Center has picked up the case of four ex-workers of their restaurant, who are demanding they be paid their stolen wages, which totals $23,000.

We were immediately greeted by the VERY aggravated Mr. Gennaro Iannacone, owner/chef of Cafe Goodfellas.

Goodfellas Owner Gennaro Iannacone

Mr. Gennaro Iannacone was very unhappy with our decision to march in front of his restaurant on a Friday evening and chant about the claims of discrimination, violations of the labor law, unpaid wages, and exploitation of workers. For 10 minutes he tried to chase us off by mimiking a megaphone with an orange cone. We really couldn't hear him!

Armed and yelling at protestors through an orange cone!

And of course, the New Haven Police....it is only the beginning.