| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| Glendale Concrete Contractor Accused of Unpaid Wages Jostes Concrete Threatens to Call Sheriff if Workers Protest |
Phoenix. Nov 11, 2008– According
to Pueblo Center for Legal and
Human Rights, former and current
employees of Jostes Concrete -a
Glendale, Arizona-based contractor-
cancelled a scheduled protest upon
receiving news from luxury-home
builder T.W. Lewis that as
requested they will stop doing
business with its subcontractor,
Jostes Concrete, who allegedly
owes workers thousands of dollars
in unpaid wages.
Pueblo states workers are pleased
to learn of the action taken by T.W.
Lewis after a letter was sent to the
builder. However, workers are
angered at the position being
taken by their former employer,
Todd A. Jostes. For months Jostes
workers -who claim they are
collectively owed over $50,000-
have been demanding payment.
According to them, Jostes gives
checks for $100 or $200 every pay
period. When they realize they are
not going to be paid in full, Jostes
simply hires new workers with the
promise of paying them.
to Pueblo Center for Legal and
Human Rights, former and current
employees of Jostes Concrete -a
Glendale, Arizona-based contractor-
cancelled a scheduled protest upon
receiving news from luxury-home
builder T.W. Lewis that as
requested they will stop doing
business with its subcontractor,
Jostes Concrete, who allegedly
owes workers thousands of dollars
in unpaid wages.
Pueblo states workers are pleased
to learn of the action taken by T.W.
Lewis after a letter was sent to the
builder. However, workers are
angered at the position being
taken by their former employer,
Todd A. Jostes. For months Jostes
workers -who claim they are
collectively owed over $50,000-
have been demanding payment.
According to them, Jostes gives
checks for $100 or $200 every pay
period. When they realize they are
not going to be paid in full, Jostes
simply hires new workers with the
promise of paying them.
In addition to the allegation of
denying payment to his former
employers, the group states Jostes
has also threatened to call the
Sheriff if any protests take place.
According to public information
obtained by Barriozona, Jostes
Concrete Inc. is already a
defendant in a civil suit case
presented by Suncoast
Post-Tension LP., based on a
complaint of an unpaid contract
debt. Jostes Concrete Inc., is also
the plaintiff on another law suit
against Richmond American Homes
of Arizona Inc., for an alleged
unpaid debt. The concrete company
is also a defendant in yet another
civil case presented on October
2008 by BJB Grading Inc., for an
alleged unpaid open account.
"We have made him wealthier
through our hard work and now he
wants to threaten us for
attempting to practice our freedom
of expression," said Raul Peralvillo,
a former employee of Jostes
Concrete and one of the lead
denying payment to his former
employers, the group states Jostes
has also threatened to call the
Sheriff if any protests take place.
According to public information
obtained by Barriozona, Jostes
Concrete Inc. is already a
defendant in a civil suit case
presented by Suncoast
Post-Tension LP., based on a
complaint of an unpaid contract
debt. Jostes Concrete Inc., is also
the plaintiff on another law suit
against Richmond American Homes
of Arizona Inc., for an alleged
unpaid debt. The concrete company
is also a defendant in yet another
civil case presented on October
2008 by BJB Grading Inc., for an
alleged unpaid open account.
"We have made him wealthier
through our hard work and now he
wants to threaten us for
attempting to practice our freedom
of expression," said Raul Peralvillo,
a former employee of Jostes
Concrete and one of the lead
organizers. "We will not be
intimidated into not fighting for
what is ours. If he wants to call the
Sheriff, then let him, we will not
back down and will continue our
struggle," Peralvillo added.
"We thank T.W. Lewis for taking
the right action and for seeking
resolution of this issue," said Ray
Ybarra, an organizer with Pueblo
Center for Legal and Human Rights.
"Unfortunately, the workers are
still owed thousands of dollars. We
will speak with others who contract
with Jostes Concrete until the
workers are paid in full."
Jostes workers in collaboration
with Pueblo and other community
members held a press conference
on Tuesday, November 11 to
announce their plans for future
actions, and to denounce the
supposed exploitation of workers
by companies such as Jostes
Concrete. According to the group,
"the outrageous intimidation tactics
of people such as Todd Jostes' will
not be tolerated."
intimidated into not fighting for
what is ours. If he wants to call the
Sheriff, then let him, we will not
back down and will continue our
struggle," Peralvillo added.
"We thank T.W. Lewis for taking
the right action and for seeking
resolution of this issue," said Ray
Ybarra, an organizer with Pueblo
Center for Legal and Human Rights.
"Unfortunately, the workers are
still owed thousands of dollars. We
will speak with others who contract
with Jostes Concrete until the
workers are paid in full."
Jostes workers in collaboration
with Pueblo and other community
members held a press conference
on Tuesday, November 11 to
announce their plans for future
actions, and to denounce the
supposed exploitation of workers
by companies such as Jostes
Concrete. According to the group,
"the outrageous intimidation tactics
of people such as Todd Jostes' will
not be tolerated."
BARRIOZONA Bilingual Community Expression Grassroots Journalism www.barriozona.com "History is about to change" Published in Arizona to the world wide web. Editor Eduardo Barraza Arizona revistas articles asuntos author authors Autor autores bariozona.com barraza barrio barriosona barriozona barriozona.com bilingual bilingüe bilingües books christine community crónica cuevas cultura culture editor editores editoriales eduardo election en-líne ensayo escritores espanol español estados EUA expresión e-zine e-zines fotografía frontera fronteriza fronterizo grassroots grass-roots hernández hisi hispanic hispano historian history institute instituto Irma issues journalism language latino latinos lectura leer lenguaje libros literatura literature magazine magazines marin media mesa mexican-american mexicano Mexicans mexicanos mexico méxico mexico-us narrativa newspapers on-line páginas periodicals periódicos periodismo periodista periodistas Phoenix photojournalism poesía publicada publications publishing revista revistas revistas saúl slide-shows social sociales Sofia Spanish states temas texto unidos united USA us-mexico-border Viloria Web-zine writer writers www.barriozona.com www.hisi.org yolie zona hisi.org
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006-2008 All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
| By Eduardo Barraza | Photo courtesy of Pueblo |
