NYT: No Justice, No Mani-Pedi!

[Omaha Steve]

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/no-justice-no-mani-pedi/

April 3, 2008, 5:53 pm
No Justice, No Mani-Pedi!

By Jennifer 8. Lee


Susan Kim spoke to a group of protesters on 125th Street in front of Belle World nail salon at noon today. (Photo: Jennifer 8. Lee/The New York Times)

Susan Kim has sparked a nail salon rebellion of sorts in the New York metro region. Ever since word of her victorious labor lawsuit against her former employer in October (which awarded her more money than she asked for) spread in the immigrant press, nail salon workers have been approaching advocacy groups and speaking up about their working conditions.

Among those who were motivated by her case were three Latino manicurists in Connecticut, including Irma Karina Vivar, who said she heard Ms. Kim speak at a meeting organized by the National Mobilization Against Sweatshops.

“I was inspired and felt more powerful,” Ms. Vivar said through a translator. (There is a Korean-Spanish translator at the organization, because there are many Koreans who have immigrated to Latin America.)

On Monday, Ms. Vivar and two other women filed suit in federal court in Connecticut against their former employer, Renaissance Nail Salon, which has shops in New Canaan and Darien.

Two other Chinese immigrant manicurists also learned about the case from Chinese newspapers and approached the Chinese Staff and Workers Association, saying they had been shortchanged of overtime wages by Belle World Beauty in Harlem and had been forced to work in a windowless basement salon.

Today, Ms. Kim, wearing dark sunglasses, spoke to a group of noontime protesters on 125th Street in front of Belle World. She noted how her case resonated not just with Korean immigrant workers, but also with Chinese and Latino immigrant women as well.

FULL story at link.