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"I Just Wanted to Make It A Better Place to Work..."

Roberto De La Cruz had worked at Agata & Valentina for six years, long enough to understand the two worlds in which the store exists. The public image is one of artsinal products, nothing but the best. The private one is a world in which employees are paid as little as $8/hour and have little recourse if they are mistreated by managers.

Roberto knew that workers at many of Agata & Valentina's competitors were members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, and that they earned fair wages. As Roberto put it, "having a union at Agata and Valentina would make it a better place to work. Maybe we could finally earn middle class wages and benefits. We could finally have respect on the job."

In March of 2009, Roberto was fired. His managers didn't mince words, and didn't try to hide why he was being fired: "I was called into the office and fired. They told me it was because I supported a union."

Agata & Valentina's behavior is shameful. Eight dollars an hour isn't enough to support yourself in New York, let alone a family. Moreover, firing somebody for trying to improve his workplace is indefensible, not to mention unlawful.

The National Labor Relations Board is now investigating the lawfulness of Roberto's termination.

Our community has the power to change Agata & Valentina's behavior if we stand together. Take action today!