November 21, 2011. The Florida Independent.
People Engaged in Active Community Efforts — aka PEACE, an organization of 27 religious congregations from Palm Beach County — delivered holiday cards to Florida Retail Federation members Saturday as part of their campaign to push for a countywide ordinance to crack down on wage theft.
The Palm Beach Post reports that PEACE “anti-wage theft activists delivered more than 1,500 holiday cards – and, they hoped, a message – to Macy’s in CityPlace” Saturday.
The Post adds that their goal is to voice “their disappointment with the Florida Retail Federation’s proposal of a state bill that would block passage of a wage theft ordinance in Palm Beach County. Paul Imbrone, a Macy’s executive based in Miami, is vice chair of the federation.”
According to a press release issued by PEACE, approval of the anti-wage theft ordinance by Palm Beach county commissioners stalled “at the urging of two staunchly opposed groups – the Business Forum of Palm Beach County, and a statewide group called the Florida Retail Federation – of which executives at Macy’s and Beall’s are the Chair and Vice Chair.”
PEACE is opposed to a bill filed early this month by state Rep. Tom Goodson, R-Titusville, and Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, that would prohibit Florida municipalities from “adopting or maintaining” local ordinances (such as Miami-Dade County’s) that crack down on wage theft.
Miami-Dade’s anti-wage theft ordinance is facing a court challenge brought by the Florida Retail Federation, which also supports the bill filed Goodson and Simmons.
The Post adds that “PEACE also attempted to deliver cards to the manager at Beall’s in Royal Palm Beach this afternoon but said they were immediately told to leave the store. A Beall’s executive is chairman of the Florida Retail Federation.”
Interfaith Worker Justice, national faith and labor coalitions, workers’ centers and congregations across the country organized ”actions and services calling for Just Jobs,” from Nov. 17 through Nov. 20, the same week Miami-Dade County celebrated the first anniversary of a publically declared Day Against Wage Theft.
