July 22, 2008 Salon workers protest human rights violations Play video

(Brian Burnell, NECN: Darein, CT) - Several former workers from the Renaissance nail salon in Darien, Connecticut were joined by supporters as they staged a demonstration in front of the salon. They accuse the Korean owners of exploiting Latina workers. Of paying less-than minimum wage and no overtime, of exposing them to dangerous chemicals with no protection. And, perhaps most shocking, of forcing some of the them to provide massages.

Juana Torres, Former Salon worker: They make it sound like it was a borderline massage parlor. How did that happen? Doreen Wang, National Mobilization Against Sweatshops: So one of my coworkers she was contracted to do cleaning here but the boss made her give massages. Massages to nude men in the back room of the salon.

Among the protesters were representatives from several immigrant's and worker's rights organizations. They say these types of problems are not rare.

Laura Huirzar, Junta for Progressive Action: This happens all over Connecticut. We're based in New Haven and we see cases every day, really, out of the week where people come into our office and tell us cases like these of sexual harassment, people who haven't been paid for work performed. All kinds of worker exploitation. Are these people illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, does it run the gamut? You know, we don't ask for documentation because worker rights really apply to everybody so we help anybody who comes to our center.

Brian Burnell,

NECN: This location of the Renaissance Nail Salon in Darien is closed. The protesters say because the owners knew they were going to be here. But they say they are in New Canaan and they're open so that's where we're going to go to see if we can get a comment.

The people working in the New Canaan location said they did not know where the owners were or how to get in touch with them. The demonstrators showed up a short time later. They have filed a federal lawsuit and a complaint with the state commission on human rights. In Darien, Connecticut, Brian Burnell, NECN.