7/20 - Ben Davis Workers Walk Off Job, SF Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution

San Francisco - Ben Davis workers walked off the job and demonstrated at City Hall today for the second time in less than three months. City Supervisors Chris Daly, Sophie Maxwell, and Matt Gonzales, UNITE HERE officials, the Chinese Progressive Association, and labor and community supporters joined them in demanding that Ben Davis respect San Francisco’s new minimum wage rate and the workers’ union, and maintain workers’ benefits.

“This month the company cut my health benefits and took away my sick days,” recounted Wai Wong , who has worked at Ben Davis for 8 years. “Ben Davis says this is because of the new minimum wage. I say, why should I have to choose between a decent wage and basic benefits? I deserve both for my hard work.”

Later, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling on Ben Davis to restore health care benefits and paid time off to the workers, and to negotiate a contract with their union, UNITE HERE. “Last Fall, recognizing the Bay Area is one of the most expensive areas of the country, the electorate of San Francisco voted overwhelmingly to raise the minimum wage to $8.50,” explained Supervisor Chris Daly. “Today’s resolution seeks to uphold the intent of the law: providing the City’s lowest wage earners with decent pay without losing benefits.”

In October, 2003, the workers at Ben Davis voted to be represented by UNITE HERE [formerly known as UNITE]. During contract negotiations, Frank Davis, the owner of Ben Davis, proposed cuts to health care and paid time off, using the new local minimum wage of $8.50 as justification. The Ben Davis workers overwhelmingly rejected this proposal and have authorized work actions against the company up to and including a strike.

Frank Davis responded by unilaterally demanding that workers immediately begin paying 20% of their health insurance costs. Over the last month, in an attempt to badger and intimidate the workers, he began cutting health coverage for workers who refuse to pay this amount.

UNITE HERE is North America’s union for garment, laundry, apparel, hospitality, and gaming workers. The union represents nearly half a million workers.

Ben Davis Inc.-maker of workwear and work fashions-has been a unionized San Francisco employer since 1935. It currently employs nearly 100 workers, mostly Chinese and Latino immigrants.