Members to restaurant owner: "Pay your workers!"

"It's not only unacceptable, it's illegal."

 On Friday, December 2, two dozen Iowa CCI members and supporters from Occupy Des Moines paid a visit to Margarita's on Des Moines' Southeast side.

We were there to collect $5,545 in unpaid wages owner Ivan Escalona owes former bartender and CCI member Angelica Sandoval - the equivalent of seven month's pay.

Sometimes Angelica's paychecks would bounce. Other times Escalona would only pay for some hours and make up excuses to put off paying her the rest. She came to Iowa CCI after she heard that by working with CCI a former co-worker got Escalona to pay her over $2,500 in stolen wages.

This is the fourth complaint we have received about Margarita's not paying their employees for their hard work. Members and staff have spoken with Margarita's owner on the phone and tried to set up multiple meetings for him to make the situation right. After tonight's action Sandoval will file a wage claim with Iowa Workforce Development.

“I’m very happy because we made our point here. Now everybody will know what kind of business he is running,” said Sandoval. The action was picked up by Des Moines TV Channels 5 and 13 and the Des Moines Register.

Iowa CCI organizing has helped 54 workers win back $122,014.90 in stolen wages in the past year and a half.