Cafe Irie on Primetime

AnonoBoy · 02-12-2008 6:58pm #1

Just wondering if anyone else here is reconsidering frequenting Cafe Irie after the revelations about non-payment of at least one migrant worker on Primetime Investigates last night?

I like the place - good stir-fries for less than a tenner and decent coffee. But I'm not sure if I want to be giving business to anyone who treats staff so badly.

Opinions?

arse..biscuits · 02-12-2008 7:05pm

I couldn't give them any business personally after seeing it. I've never been there before, but if I was a regular I'd stop going.

bobbyjoe · 02-12-2008 9:22pm

Didn't see Primetime but go into Cafe Irie sometimes.
What happened?

If they are messing people around with pay or treating them badly I'd defo not go there again.

stovelid · 02-12-2008 9:34pm

I have a policy of studiously avoiding cafes with hand painted signs and pseudo Rastafarian names, but I'll certainly avoid it after hearing this.

Wishbone Ash · 02-12-2008 10:41pm

Moved to Consumer Issues.

miles teg · 02-12-2008 11:09pm

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone else here is reconsidering frequenting Cafe Irie after the revelations about non-payment of at least one migrant worker on Primetime Investigates last night?

I like the place - good stir-fries for less than a tenner and decent coffee. But I'm not sure if I want to be giving business to anyone who treats staff so badly.

Opinions?

I work near it and decided not to go there again. Noticed this evening though that it's still busy inside

Dennis the Stone · 03-12-2008 12:59am

Never going again.. employers who treat workers like that are the lowest of the low

Fajitas! · 03-12-2008 1:02am

I go in to the one on Thomas St quite regularly, what happened?

It DID seem very empty today... And the two regular staff haven't been there for two weeks... :-/

Arathorn · 03-12-2008 1:19am

A Brazilian guy was working there for 3 months without getting paid, they kept fobbing him off with excuses, he eventually had to leave to get another job. They filmed undercover him going to the manager/owner? asking for his €1000 owed, they gave him another bull**** excuse. When she was confronted with the camera she ran a mile. The primetime show is up on the rte website. I would't go there after seeing this.

discobeaker · 03-12-2008 1:24am

does anyone have the link to this. I cant ind it on line

MunsterCycling · 03-12-2008 1:25am

http://www.rte.ie/news/primetimeinvestigates/

mikemac · 03-12-2008 1:26am

Unlike the Harvey Norman thread a few days ago, this is a business that deserves to be boycotted

discobeaker · 03-12-2008 1:27am

Thanks for that. I think cafe irie has just lost a regular customer

oceanclub · 03-12-2008 1:59am

Immigrant-exploiting scum.

P.

foggy_lad · 03-12-2008 2:30am

just one of many places exploiting workers! are you fully sure your local chinese/thai take away is paying the correct rates? what about the person serving you in your local convenience store? we would have very few eateries to choose from if we boycott everywhere that treated their staff this badly.

Darragh29 · 03-12-2008 3:19am

It's hard to see how a guy can work for 3 months without getting paid. I felt sorry for the poor guy who worked there, it sounded like his opinion of Ireland has changed over this...

wyndham · 03-12-2008 9:06am

foggy_lad wrote: »

just one of many places exploiting workers! are you fully sure your local chinese/thai take away is paying the correct rates? what about the person serving you in your local convenience store? we would have very few eateries to choose from if we boycott everywhere that treated their staff this badly.

BS. There are hundreds of restaurants/foodservice businesses in this city. Those mistreating staff in this manner are in the minority.

KTRIC · 03-12-2008 9:10am

Holy shoite, that was my favourite cafe when I lived in Dublin. Coffee and sambo's were nice and you could look down chicks tops when they walk by the window

penexpers · 03-12-2008 11:55am

wyndham wrote: »

BS. There are hundreds of restaurants/foodservice businesses in this city. Those mistreating staff in this manner are in the minority.

I would say the majority of restaurants are mistreating staff. It's mentioned during the primetime show that the Rights Commisioner (I think) carreid out a survey of restaurants and found that most places surveyed were not following employment regulations (no contracts, no payslips, paying below minimum wage etc...)

Boycott Cafe Irie if you want, but don't think it will make a difference.

Doctor DooM · 03-12-2008 12:00pm

Now this is a consumer issue.

I hope these lads have their business impacted the way they deserve.

Paulw · 03-12-2008 12:14pm

It was disgusting to see, but good that PrimeTime are showing some business for what they are.

It would be very good if the Gardai and Immigration also did random checks/raids on businesses, the way that they do it in the UK.

Dub37 · 03-12-2008 12:49pm

I heard a rumour that 10 people (mainly immigrant workers) yesterday lost their jobs at Wigwam (the company that was featured cheating the taxman), I need to check..will have more soon.
P

AnonoBoy · 03-12-2008 1:40pm

foggy_lad wrote: »

we would have very few eateries to choose from if we boycott everywhere that treated their staff this badly.

Maybe, just maybe, restaurants and coffee shops that were boycotted would see the error of their ways and start paying and treating their workers properly.

I worked in the service industry when I was younger - didn't particularly enjoy it but at least I was getting paid all the hours I was owed. Can't imagine how soul-destroying it must be working in a kitchen and not even getting minimum wage (or getting anything at all like that Brazilian guy in Cafe Irie).

John Mason · 03-12-2008 1:58pm

If you hadnt been paid for 3 months why would you still go in everyday?

Seamonster · 03-12-2008 2:11pm

I went to Cafe Irie a few times and was regularly surprised at how the manager (The male one) was always rude to the staff behind counter, in front of customers. Some of the staff were really pleasant French / Spanish / European girls who didn't deserve it. This has taken it to a different level and I am disgusted & annoyed about it. I definitely wont be going back and will pass the word on. I also congratulate the Brazilian waiter for his courage.

Monkey61 · 03-12-2008 2:36pm

i don't understand why anyone would continue to work for three months without getting paid or why anyone would take a job and not demand a contract. It's asking for trouble.

stovelid · 03-12-2008 2:39pm

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

If you hadnt been paid for 3 months why would you still go in everyday?

Could have been so broke, he wanted the free meal? Maybe he was here legally and needed to stay in the job to qualify.

Does sound weird though I agree, but the poor guy was probably been fed a line and got to the stage where he was afraid to leave until he got what he was due.

Fcuking pond life of an owner(s). Wouldn't set foot in there if I was dying of hunger.

syklops · 03-12-2008 2:46pm

I would actually love to go in there. Apparently the food is very good especially the breakfasts. Yea I want to go in there, order a load of grub and when they go to ask me to pay them say "Er, I am a bit short today, ill pay you tomorrow....."

See what that blonde floozy says then!!!

foggy_lad · 03-12-2008 2:46pm

penexpers wrote: »

I would say the majority of restaurants are mistreating staff. It's mentioned during the primetime show that the Rights Commisioner (I think) carreid out a survey of restaurants and found that most places surveyed were not following employment regulations (no contracts, no payslips, paying below minimum wage etc...)

Boycott Cafe Irie if you want, but don't think it will make a difference.

to be fair it is not just cafes and restaurants, the problem is widespread and government will do very little as the buisnesses that back them depend on these "slaves" for their massive profits!

Monkey61 wrote: »

i don't understand why anyone would continue to work for three months without getting paid or why anyone would take a job and not demand a contract. It's asking for trouble.

many of these poorly paid people are given board and lodgings as part payment and they cant ask about their wages then for fear of being put out on the street!

andrewh5 · 03-12-2008 2:48pm

syklops wrote: »

I would actually love to go in there. Apparently the food is very good especially the breakfasts. Yea I want to go in there, order a load of grub and when they go to ask me to pay them say "Er, I am a bit short today, ill pay you tomorrow....."

See what that blonde floozy says then!!!

Brilliant! We should all do it so

Peewee_lane · 03-12-2008 2:52pm

Wow, I am shocked.

Officially boycotted.

Jaysoose · 03-12-2008 3:21pm

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

If you hadnt been paid for 3 months why would you still go in everyday?

Probably because if he walked they would definitely not pay him.

mikemac · 03-12-2008 3:41pm

Anyone familiar with the place?
If you're passing by, has business dropped off drastically?

It'd be interesting to find out

And sure wasn't it the Irish who invented boycotting

Well, not invented it but became very successful at it

penexpers · 03-12-2008 3:44pm

Paulw wrote: »

It was disgusting to see, but good that PrimeTime are showing some business for what they are.

It's incredibly unfair on Cafe Irie to be featured like this. What they were doing is pretty bad, but they are not the only ones at it, especially in the industry they are in. You may boycott Cafe Irie and go to the place down the road, but what's to say that the place down the road treats it's staff well?

I know people who are owed larger sums of money from larger companies for work done in the past but have bascially given up any hope of ever getting it. The legislation in this area needs major overhaul.

talkingclock · 03-12-2008 4:10pm

then those people should make their issues plublic as well!

Jaysoose · 03-12-2008 4:12pm

No sympathy for them at all, if they paid the guys his wages then it wouldnt be an issue. Its not like he was on big money after all the owners are scum taking advantage of a guy like this.

stovelid · 03-12-2008 4:16pm

penexpers wrote: »

It's incredibly unfair on Cafe Irie to be featured like this.

While I agree that it would be nice for everybody to get caught out, their sh*tty behaviour is not less sh*tty because they were the only ones caught.

penexpers · 03-12-2008 4:53pm

Jaysoose wrote: »

No sympathy for them at all, if they paid the guys his wages then it wouldnt be an issue. Its not like he was on big money after all the owners are scum taking advantage of a guy like this.

If they did pay his wages and there wasn't a problem, then no doubt Prime Time would be able to line up hundreds of other people who are owed money by their employers. Point is that worker exploitation is widespread in Ireland and not limited to isolated cases. While it's all well and good boycotting places that are singled out like this, it's really not going to make much difference at all.

stovelid · 03-12-2008 4:57pm

penexpers wrote: »

If they did pay his wages and there wasn't a problem, then no doubt Prime Time would be able to line up hundreds of other people who are owed money by their employers. Point is that worker exploitation is widespread in Ireland and not limited to isolated cases. While it's all well and good boycotting places that are singled out like this, it's really not going to make much difference at all.

I don't get you.

So you're saying I shouldn't boycott a place that I know are treating people like sh*t because other people are doing it that I don't know about?

Basically a charter for doing nothing because it's not everything?

AnonoBoy · 03-12-2008 5:13pm

penexpers wrote: »

It's incredibly unfair on Cafe Irie to be featured like this.

No it's not. They refused to pay a staff member what he was legally entitled to and in the end only handed over the money when they were confronted by Primetime about it.

If Primetime hadn't taken it on I doubt that guy would ever have seen his money. Their behaviour being exposed will hopefully stop other businesses doing the same thing to their staff.

I will never eat in either of their premises again.

admiralofthefleet · 03-12-2008 5:24pm

a friend of mine just lost his metal fabrication business as a result of not being paid what he was owed by customers, some contracts he was due to be paid on strecthed back years

penexpers · 03-12-2008 5:35pm

stovelid wrote: »

I don't get you.

So you're saying I shouldn't boycott a place that I know are treating people like sh*t because other people are doing it that I don't know about?

Basically a charter for doing nothing because it's not everything?

I would encourage a boycott but not under the assumption that it's going to change anything.

penexpers · 03-12-2008 5:39pm

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Their behaviour being exposed will hopefully stop other businesses doing the same thing to their staff.

It won't stop their behaviour though. The only thing that will stop their behaviour is the threat of being closed down on the spot and the knowledge that they will be inspected at least every six months, but of course that will never happen.

Miguel_Sanchez · 03-12-2008 5:42pm

penexpers wrote: »

It won't stop their behaviour though. The only thing that will stop their behaviour is the threat of being closed down on the spot and the knowledge that they will be inspected at least every six months, but of course that will never happen.

Perhaps workers being mistreated will be encouraged to make complaints though so hopefully it will make some difference.

penexpers · 03-12-2008 5:48pm

Jeff_Lebowski wrote: »

Perhaps workers being mistreated will be encouraged to make complaints though so hopefully it will make some difference.

Complain to who though? As was shown in the Prime Time program, the bodies that are supposed to protect these employees are woefully inadaquete.

stovelid · 03-12-2008 5:52pm

penexpers wrote: »

I would encourage a boycott but not under the assumption that it's going to change anything.

It will change something in this instance. It's going to hurt the dimwit who withheld somebody's wages for three months.

I understand your point though. Boycotting one place provides a focal point for people's rage, nothing meaningful / legislative is done, and the same exploitation carries on.

Jesus Wept · 03-12-2008 6:36pm

I boycotted the place after the last time I went there.
It was beyond sh1t.

eth0_ · 03-12-2008 8:06pm

penexpers wrote: »

It's incredibly unfair on Cafe Irie to be featured like this

No, it's incredibly unfair on the poor Brazilian guy who sold EVERYTHING to come to work in Ireland only to be screwed over by the unscrupulous jerks who run Cafe Irie! Let's face it, he would NEVER have gotten his back pay had Primetime not doorstepped the manager of the cafe.

Maybe it was unfair to only feature one cafe, but it's a one hour show and a lot of research goes into those shows, they wouldn't have had a lot of time to cover any other businesses..

eth0_ · 03-12-2008 8:08pm

penexpers wrote: »

Complain to who though? As was shown in the Prime Time program, the bodies that are supposed to protect these employees are woefully inadaquete.

No they're not. Where in that show did they mention the chap in Cafe Irie had gone to any government agencies? They mentioned that NERA were dealing with thousands of cases this year from migrant workers, and one trucker featured was awarded compensation.

Personally, i'm involved in a case against a former employer along with my former team-mates using NERA. We sent the complaint a month ago, received a letter the other day saying the employer had been informed and a hearing date would be scheduled for the new year. They're a brilliant service.

ixoy · 03-12-2008 8:11pm

Apparently there was a number of protesters outside a certain sandwich outlet on Nassau Street today (let's call it "Underground"), with signs saying that the place had fired a member of staff for being pregnant. I wonder if their actions were spurred by the Prime Time documentary?

Darragh29 · 03-12-2008 8:25pm

I've a possible solution to this. Firstly, I believe it is wrong that LRC cases are heard in private and that also that an LRC decision is unenforcable. The best thing that could happen would be that where an employee takes a complaint to the LRC, that a decision is issued as opposed to a recommendation and also that the decision is published on the LRC website...

An employer can:

(1) Refuse to attend an LRC hearing

(2) Attend a hearing but refuse to act on any recommendation issued by the LRC. If the LRC recommends compensation, the employer can ignore this recommendation without having to worry about any ramifications for the employer.

As things stand, the hearings are held in private and none of us are any the wiser...

A solution would be for a website to be set up where you can submit your LRC recommendation and name and shame your employer. An employer that doesn't pay an employee for 3 months should be named and shamed.

Just because the LRC holds hearings in private, there is no reason I can think of that prevents an employee from posting their LRC recommendation up on a website in a public forum...

Cafe Irie on Primetime

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