Read on Twitter
The owner of Ohana Yoga & Barre in Denver just posted a childcare provider position for an hourly rate that is less than minimum wage. I flagged it, noting that rate is illegal, noting everyone should be paid a living wage. What happened next...[THREAD ON WAGE THEFT] #copolitcs
1st she linked me to the Colorado minimum wage. Denver has a different minimum wage law thanks to all of the work done by @SEIU105 & countless others. She runs a very fancy studio in a very fancy part of town & has MANY employees. She should know this. #copolitics
Then:
she said “she’s doing the best she can”
told me free membership is worth the $.35/hr difference
That’s not how min wage works
said she offers childcare FOR FREE to her mostly white mostly affluent cliente bc they thrive when their kids are looked after
So...
she said “she’s doing the best she can” told me free membership is worth the $.35/hr differenceThat’s not how min wage works said she offers childcare FOR FREE to her mostly white mostly affluent cliente bc they thrive when their kids are looked afterSo...
A progressive small business owner in Denver has a plan: Her plan is to offer a FREE service to white, affluent women and have a low wage position — often done by a woman of color, often done by a Latina — subsidize this service and make a wage so low it’s illegal.
For context: Her studio membership is $189/month. Most families in the US don’t have $500 in savings in case of a medical or other emergency, let alone afford a workout class.
And Latinas have to work ALL of 2019 and until Nov 2020 to make what white men make in 2019 alone.
And Latinas have to work ALL of 2019 and until Nov 2020 to make what white men make in 2019 alone.
Caregivers today are ADDITIONALLY bearing the brunt of being exposed to COVID-19 w higher infection rate & higher rate of complications, esp for Latinas. W 80% of COVID+ young kids showing few to no symptoms, it’s impossible to offer a safe, COVID free position in dropin daycare
The studio is not mentioning any paid leave or health coverage. To be clear:
She’s offering an illegal rate
The position will likely result in COVID exposure that could kill or bankrupt this employee
She told me to “keep up up the good work for social justice 
”
She’s offering an illegal rate The position will likely result in COVID exposure that could kill or bankrupt this employee She told me to “keep up up the good work for social justice ”
Why it’s important:
Wage theft is happening across the country
It’s embedded in white supremacy BIPOC and women subsidize services for the wealthy, often putting their lives on the line
IT HAPPENS IN PROGRESSIVE SPACES ALL THE TIME, including in Denver
Wage theft is happening across the countryIt’s embedded in white supremacy BIPOC and women subsidize services for the wealthy, often putting their lives on the lineIT HAPPENS IN PROGRESSIVE SPACES ALL THE TIME, including in Denver
After the closing of Kindness Yoga, you’d have thought things would have woken up a bit. But it looks like this is a much bigger issue for Denver and the US as a whole. [end]
NOT THE END!! Was just passed info that @LilyO_Neill reported this story for @Business_Den about how the same owner abandoned another studio and didn’t pay rent: https://businessden.com/2020/08/04/berkeley-yoga-studio-bolts/
