SANTA FE, NM--
Last week, five workers from the Santa Fe Bar & Grill finalized a settlement agreement through a private mediation for an undisclosed amount with owner Rob Day after filing overtime, minimum wage, and retaliation complaints with the City of Santa Fe, the Department of Workforce Solutions, and the National Labor Relations Board.
"We believe we reached a satisfactory agreement to resolve these claims," said Yessenia Sanchez, currently a prep cook at the restaurant. "Those of us who still work at the SF Bar & Grill look forward to a positive work environment in the future."
The workers, two who still currently work at the restaurant, filed the wage claims at the Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS) on March 9, 2018 shortly after First Judicial District Judge David K. Thomsom approved a class action settlement between DWS, Somos Un Pueblo Unido, and several other worker organizations
guaranteeing stronger enforcement of the state's wage and hour laws.
Iliana Garcia, a single mother who worked at the restaurant for 11 years said this week: "We are very satisfied with the outcome of this case and are happy to be moving forward."
Rob Day, general manager of the Santa Fe Bar and Grill, also said he was pleased the parties could work together to resolve the claims.
After finalizing the settlement agreement, the workers withdrew their complaints with city state and federal agencies. Other workers who were a party to the settlement included: Jesus Salas Torres, Maudelia Ordoñez, and María Siliezar Sanchez.
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Somos Un Pueblo Unido is a statewide civil and worker's rights organization. In 2012, Somos founded New Mexico's only worker
center,
the United Worker Center of New Mexico, to organize and provide support to non-union, low-wage workers. The organization has helped workers recoup over 1.1 million dollars in unpaid wages, lost wages, and
penalties
.
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