Dear Friends and Supporters,
The Justice Will Be Served! Campaign is calling on you to support beauty salon workers and other service workers in taking action against long hours, health issues and other employment problems they face. On June 18th we will hold a press conference and demonstration in the Upper West Side to launch a weekly picket in front of Simply Nails (aka 167 Nail Plaza) and Kim’s Vegetables that have forced women workers to work long hours, discriminated against and fired women workers who spoke out.
Salon owners Dong Rim Park (aka “Young”) and Mou San Rim are refusing to comply with a federal court judgment to compensate salon worker Susan Kim. Susan was illegally fired for speaking out against long work hours without breaks. The owners have even changed the name of the salon from 167 Nail Plaza to Simply Nails in order to avoid liability. Recently, Susan filed a second lawsuit against the owners for fraudulently selling their two condominiums worth nearly $3 million to their son, Sokho Lim, for $20.
Since the court decision against 167 Nail Plaza, many other nail salon and beauty workers from throughout the tri-state area have been coming forward to expose conditions in the beauty industry, such as long hours without breaks, toxic work environments, sexual and racial discrimination, and retaliation for speaking out. These shops include popular salons like Sa-Sa Cosmetic & Skincare, Belle World Beauty, Beauty Concepts Day Spa, Renaissance, and Always Is Nails. We are currently working with Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal to pass state legislation that will provide better health and safety protections for nail and beauty workers.
Also, more restaurant, deli and supermarket workers in other shops located in the Upper West Side neighborhood have come out against sweatshop conditions. Among them, most recently are a group of women Latina workers from Kim’s Vegetables who were made to work as many as 84 hours a week or as little as $2 per hour, and were harassed and discriminated against by their Korean bosses. Like employers of Simply Nails, Kim's Vegetables and other sweatshops have come together and use the same tactics, such as pretending to sell the business by reopening under a new name, to undermine labor law enforcement.
Please join us on June 18th at 1:00pm in front of Simply Nails at 167 Amsterdam Avenue to call for a Boycott of Simply Nails. We especially invite all Koreans who believe in equal rights and fighting for justice to participate in the picket. We demand Simply Nails owner comply with the federal court judgment, compensate and reinstate Susan Kim immediately to ensure the Upper West Side and New York City are sweatshop free.
To participate, please call JWBS at 212-358-0295.
Sincerely,
Ying Zhu Hoon Kim
CSWA Board Member NMASS Board Member
The Justice Will Be Served! Campaign is calling on you to support beauty salon workers and other service workers in taking action against long hours, health issues and other employment problems they face. On June 18th we will hold a press conference and demonstration in the Upper West Side to launch a weekly picket in front of Simply Nails (aka 167 Nail Plaza) and Kim’s Vegetables that have forced women workers to work long hours, discriminated against and fired women workers who spoke out.
Salon owners Dong Rim Park (aka “Young”) and Mou San Rim are refusing to comply with a federal court judgment to compensate salon worker Susan Kim. Susan was illegally fired for speaking out against long work hours without breaks. The owners have even changed the name of the salon from 167 Nail Plaza to Simply Nails in order to avoid liability. Recently, Susan filed a second lawsuit against the owners for fraudulently selling their two condominiums worth nearly $3 million to their son, Sokho Lim, for $20.
Since the court decision against 167 Nail Plaza, many other nail salon and beauty workers from throughout the tri-state area have been coming forward to expose conditions in the beauty industry, such as long hours without breaks, toxic work environments, sexual and racial discrimination, and retaliation for speaking out. These shops include popular salons like Sa-Sa Cosmetic & Skincare, Belle World Beauty, Beauty Concepts Day Spa, Renaissance, and Always Is Nails. We are currently working with Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal to pass state legislation that will provide better health and safety protections for nail and beauty workers.
Also, more restaurant, deli and supermarket workers in other shops located in the Upper West Side neighborhood have come out against sweatshop conditions. Among them, most recently are a group of women Latina workers from Kim’s Vegetables who were made to work as many as 84 hours a week or as little as $2 per hour, and were harassed and discriminated against by their Korean bosses. Like employers of Simply Nails, Kim's Vegetables and other sweatshops have come together and use the same tactics, such as pretending to sell the business by reopening under a new name, to undermine labor law enforcement.
Please join us on June 18th at 1:00pm in front of Simply Nails at 167 Amsterdam Avenue to call for a Boycott of Simply Nails. We especially invite all Koreans who believe in equal rights and fighting for justice to participate in the picket. We demand Simply Nails owner comply with the federal court judgment, compensate and reinstate Susan Kim immediately to ensure the Upper West Side and New York City are sweatshop free.
To participate, please call JWBS at 212-358-0295.
Sincerely,
Ying Zhu Hoon Kim
CSWA Board Member NMASS Board Member
Justice Will Be Served! Campaign
c/o NMASS, P.O. Box 130293, New York, NY 10013-0995;
Phone: (212) 358-0295 Ý Fax: (212) 358-0297 Ý Email: nmass@yahoo.com
Justice Will Be Served! (JWBS) is a campaign that unites restaurant, hotel, deli, and other service workers in different communities across New York to fight against long hours, second-class wages, stolen tips and other sweatshop conditions.
Kim et. al. vs. 167 Nail Plaza, Inc., et al.
Timeline of the Case
c/o NMASS, P.O. Box 130293, New York, NY 10013-0995;
Phone: (212) 358-0295 Ý Fax: (212) 358-0297 Ý Email: nmass@yahoo.com
Justice Will Be Served! (JWBS) is a campaign that unites restaurant, hotel, deli, and other service workers in different communities across New York to fight against long hours, second-class wages, stolen tips and other sweatshop conditions.
Kim et. al. vs. 167 Nail Plaza, Inc., et al.
Timeline of the Case
1989 March
Susan Kim begins working at Nail Plaza. While working there, Susan endures sweatshop conditions such as long hours exposed to toxic chemicals, no break time, and poor air quality, and complains on numerous occasions about the long workday.
2005 March
Susan Kim complains to her employer, Dong Rim Park, about the amount of work hours and lack of break time, and she demands break time. The next day, the employer orders Susan to leave in retaliation for her complaints.
2005 April
Susan Kim comes to CSWA with Vietnamese and Chinese coworkers to discuss the retaliatory firing. Her coworkers had also complained to Park about sweatshop conditions.
2005 October
The workers file lawsuit in federal court.
2006 October
The boss, Dong Rim Park, spills scalding hot water on herself and calls the police, falsely accusing the Vietnamese worker in the lawsuit. The worker is arrested and later the case is dismissed in court.
Workers hold press conference and picket at Nail Plaza, launching weekly pickets in front of the salon for the next year. NYC elected officials, students, and Upper West Side community members and residents come out to join the picket line in support.
2007 January
Owner Mou San Rim fraudulently transfers two Lower Manhattan condominiums worth millions of dollars to his son, Sokho Lim, for $10 each.
2007 Spring
One of Susan Kim’s lawyers, Steven Choi, repeatedly tells Susan and her co-workers that they have no retaliation case, and tries to force them to accept very little during pre-trial mediation. The workers insist they should be compensated for the retaliation, and the case goes to trial.
2007 October
Up to the first day of the trial, Steven Choi continues to push Susan that she has no retaliation case and should accept very little from the boss. Susan refuses and goes above him to talk to other lawyers on the case, demanding that the case be heard in trial. But her co-workers fall under pressure. The Vietnamese co-worker accepts around $35,000 and the Chinese co-worker accepts as little as $3,000 which they later regret.
Jury decides unanimously against Nail Plaza owners to compensate Susan Kim for roughly $189,000. Workers hold press conference and rally in front of Nail Plaza to announce court victory.
2008 September
After a whole year of waiting, Susan’s lawyer, Steven Choi, refuses to go to court to enforce the order and to ask for reinstatement.
Susan Kim fires her lawyer, Steven Choi.
2009 January
The judge enters the final judgment, which includes attorney’s fees and interest. The new total is about $366,000
2009 March
International Women’s Day Demonstration and Press Conference is held. Women workers from different trades come together to protest sweatshops and unhealthy working conditions, and to demand that bosses like Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim comply with the judgment.
The defendants, Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim, who still own the nail salon under a new name, fearing the public outcry and exposure of their gimmick, approach Susan's lawyer, Barry Kamar, to make a substantial offer to settle the case if Susan and supporters stop the picket. Susan accepts the offer. But at the last minute, the defendants refuse to pay.
2009 April
Susan Kim's lawyer, Barry Kamar, along with Ken Kimerling from AALDEF files a complaint on Rim’s fraudulent transfer of assets.
Susan Kim begins working at Nail Plaza. While working there, Susan endures sweatshop conditions such as long hours exposed to toxic chemicals, no break time, and poor air quality, and complains on numerous occasions about the long workday.
2005 March
Susan Kim complains to her employer, Dong Rim Park, about the amount of work hours and lack of break time, and she demands break time. The next day, the employer orders Susan to leave in retaliation for her complaints.
2005 April
Susan Kim comes to CSWA with Vietnamese and Chinese coworkers to discuss the retaliatory firing. Her coworkers had also complained to Park about sweatshop conditions.
2005 October
The workers file lawsuit in federal court.
2006 October
The boss, Dong Rim Park, spills scalding hot water on herself and calls the police, falsely accusing the Vietnamese worker in the lawsuit. The worker is arrested and later the case is dismissed in court.
Workers hold press conference and picket at Nail Plaza, launching weekly pickets in front of the salon for the next year. NYC elected officials, students, and Upper West Side community members and residents come out to join the picket line in support.
2007 January
Owner Mou San Rim fraudulently transfers two Lower Manhattan condominiums worth millions of dollars to his son, Sokho Lim, for $10 each.
2007 Spring
One of Susan Kim’s lawyers, Steven Choi, repeatedly tells Susan and her co-workers that they have no retaliation case, and tries to force them to accept very little during pre-trial mediation. The workers insist they should be compensated for the retaliation, and the case goes to trial.
2007 October
Up to the first day of the trial, Steven Choi continues to push Susan that she has no retaliation case and should accept very little from the boss. Susan refuses and goes above him to talk to other lawyers on the case, demanding that the case be heard in trial. But her co-workers fall under pressure. The Vietnamese co-worker accepts around $35,000 and the Chinese co-worker accepts as little as $3,000 which they later regret.
Jury decides unanimously against Nail Plaza owners to compensate Susan Kim for roughly $189,000. Workers hold press conference and rally in front of Nail Plaza to announce court victory.
2008 September
After a whole year of waiting, Susan’s lawyer, Steven Choi, refuses to go to court to enforce the order and to ask for reinstatement.
Susan Kim fires her lawyer, Steven Choi.
2009 January
The judge enters the final judgment, which includes attorney’s fees and interest. The new total is about $366,000
2009 March
International Women’s Day Demonstration and Press Conference is held. Women workers from different trades come together to protest sweatshops and unhealthy working conditions, and to demand that bosses like Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim comply with the judgment.
The defendants, Dong Rim Park and Mou San Rim, who still own the nail salon under a new name, fearing the public outcry and exposure of their gimmick, approach Susan's lawyer, Barry Kamar, to make a substantial offer to settle the case if Susan and supporters stop the picket. Susan accepts the offer. But at the last minute, the defendants refuse to pay.
2009 April
Susan Kim's lawyer, Barry Kamar, along with Ken Kimerling from AALDEF files a complaint on Rim’s fraudulent transfer of assets.
