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Nail Salon Workers Rally to Reform New York City Nail Salons!
posted 9/13/07
partially taken from Justice Will Be Served Press Release
Prompted by the firing of a nail salon worker, groups are organizing a
protest on September 16th to call attention to conditions in nail salons
throughout the New York City and surrounding area.
Susan Kim, a Korean nail salon worker at Nail Plaza on the Upper West
Side, was fired for requesting break time during the day. Chinese and
Vietnamese co-workers have since joined her in calling for proper meal
times, healthier work conditions, overtime pay, and an end to the retaliatory
practices.
In New York City, the nail industry is growing rapidly, where immigrant women workers are routinely denied their basic working rights. There are now over 6000 shops in New York and New Jersey. Employers often forbid women to use the bathroom, to take meal breaks, and to wear masks or gloves to protect themselves from the toxic nail products. Intense competition has forced down prices, and Chinese workers have begun to work in an industry that Korean workers have long dominated.
Many women have reported serious skin and eye irritation, respiratory illnesses, and even miscarriage and infertility among the women stemming from prolonged exposure to the chemicals used in poorly ventilated environments. Recent studies at Wayne State University in Detroit found that nail salon work was associated with poor performance on tests of attention, mental processing speed, memory and verbal learning. Other studies at the University of Toronto and other institutions found similar effects on cognitive functions.
Despite these increasing dangers, the industry remains largely unregulated by any government agencies and existing laws are not enforced. In addition, the majority of shops do not abide by basic wage laws, failing to pay overtime and sometimes minimum wage.
The organizing campaign is calling for:
1) Justice for the Nail Plaza workers
2) City-funding for a study and treatment program for nail salon workers
3) Government regulations to protect workers in the nail salon industry
The rally will take place September 16th, 11:30 a.m. at the 167 Nail Plaza salon.
