The Boycott of La Hacienda

What is going on at La Hacienda?
    Protests against the restaurant were sparked by a group of former employees, who recently detailed how their employer continues to systematically deny them payment for both overtime and regular hours worked. Each of these workers, all of whom are Spanish-speaking immigrants from Mexico and Central America, spent an average of 70 hours per week cooking, washing dishes, bussing tables, and cleaning at La Hacienda, while being forced by their management to enter false hours in the restaurant timesheets.
    In January 2006, the La Hacienda management paid nearly $40,000 in unpaid overtime and minimum wage payments to 14 employees, after an investigation conducted by the US Department of Labor. The WRC board sees current complaints against the restaurant as signs that even last year’s substantial settlement failed to resolve La Hacienda’s central offense—an ongoing practice of employee wage and overtime theft.

Why a boycott?
            The decision to go public with the abuses at La Hacienda was made by five ex-employees of the restaurant and the Workers' Rights Center. The continued violations show a lack of intent on the part of La Hacienda to do the right thing and federal investigations have not been sufficient. By calling a boycott against La Hacienda, the WRC Board is sending a message to businesses that they will be held accountable for exploiting workers. We are hopefully that through direct action and the support of the Madison community, we can succeed in getting the workers the unpaid wages that they have earned while at the same time raising awareness of the treatment many workers face here in Madison. Finally, publicly boycotting La Hacienda is an act of solidarity with immigrant workers and with all workers. We believe that the Madison community supports their efforts to obtain justice in the workplace. Workers in the future will have less fear of speaking out against abuses, knowing that there are those willing to accompany them in their struggles.

La Hacienda Boycott in the News
→Q&A with community activist Alfonso Zepeda Capistran
The Madison Times 9-21-07

→At LaborFest, Workers Tell of La Hacienda Woes
The Capital Times 9-4-2007

→La Hacienda Sues Ex-Workers
The Capital Times 8-25-07   Wisconsin State Journal 8-25-07

→La Hacienda Lawyer Threatens More Legal Action
Channel 3000 8-23-07

→Judge Throws Out La Hacienda Lawsuit
The Capital Times 8-18-07

→La Hacienda files for a Temporary Restraining Order to try to muzzle protest. 
The Capital Times 8-11-07  Wisconsin State Journal 8-11-07

→View Footage of the 7-7-07 picket on Youtube! http://youtube.com/watch?v=stS5QX0tI8k
Thank you to the "El Barrio" production crew for this short video

→Click here to hear the 7/3/07 WORT 89.9 interview with two former La Hacienda workers about their situation. (In Spanish)
Transcript of Radio interview (En Español) (In English)

→Click here for Capital Times Article about previous Department of Labor Wage & Hour settlement

→Click here to review the Capital Times coverage 07-04-2007
Activists Call for Boycott: Restaurant Accused of Exploiting Workers

→Click here to review the Daily Page coverage 07-06-2007
Madison's Workers' Rights Center looks to Boycott La Hacienda

Click to see the current list of individuals and organizations that have pledged to boycott in support of the La Hacienda workers.  Boycott Pledge List

What can I do to help?

• Sign the boycott pledge
  Click here for the Boycott Pledge in English and Spanish.
  Return your pledge by-
  Mail: WRC, 2300 S. Park Street, Suite 6, Madison, WI 53713
  Fax: 608-255-0239 (call first, so we can turn on the fax machine)
  Email:  'Paste' your pledge in an email and send it to 'worker@workerjustice.org
   
• Spread the word, to friends, family, organizations, etc.
  Click here to download the Boycott Flier.
   
• Attend periodic pickets & rallies.  Email worker1@sbcglobal.net to get on the rapid response list.