A café in Charlottenburg stole the wages of three of our members: delayed or incorrect payment, unpaid overtime, incomplete payment for contractual hours and withheld vacation pay. But the boss of this café just learned: sometimes you step on the wrong toes.
The workers, with the support of FAU Berlin behind them, organised and fought back. On the evening of Thursday Nov 21, the union negotiated with the owner at the FAU-Lokal and got them to agree to put more than 14.000€ back in the pockets of the workers – where they belong. The banner and the flyers that we prepared for the weekend picket won’t be necessary to use, just like in the other wins against gastro exploitation in 2022 and 2023 (where we had similar cases at Pberg and Xberg taco restaurants).
Wage theft is when employers do not pay employees everything they are entitled to. This includes withholding overtime pay, failing to comply with contractually agreed working hours, or not paying out vacation days after the end of the employment relationship. Wage theft is illegal and takes money directly out of workers’ pockets. Bosses think they can steal wages and not face any consequences. But not when workers join a fighting union – and organise for better working conditions.
They probably thought that a migrant worker who barely speaks any german and doesn’t know the contractual rules, won’t fight long for a salary and unpaid vacation days.
FAU-Member C.
All three FAU-members are migrants. Fighting back is about more than just a single pay cheque: it’s about holding bosses to account for treating workers badly, and not letting them get away with exploiting workers who are new to this country. Together we can ensure the fair treatment of all our members. We’ll support you and give advice so that you can organise at your workplace – the place you spend more time than in your bed. We will even go hand-in-hand with you to your employer, and negotiate with you.
Support your local fighting union – and let’s put an end to wage theft! Join today – so you and your colleagues won’t be the next to get tricked by greedy bosses. There is power in a union.