Nail salon wars

I haven't seen much coverage about it in the popular media yet, but it seems today a bunch of area nail salons are closed as a result of strike.  "All up and down Flatbush".

If we believe the media put out by the strikers, this is a strike in which the workers sympathize with their managers, not against their managers:    http://nailglobal.com/

It seems to be in response to the crackdown on nail salons that followed the NYT expose on the industry and caused some people to be surprised at their working conditions.  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html?_r=0

No word on whether they held a press release and whether any press bothered to cover it.


photo not by whynot_31

This was a concerted job action at salons throughout the city. I walked by one in the financial district that had a number of distraught women who thought they were going to get a quick polish change during lunch. No pretty nails for them today.

The website seems to state that they believe they are victims of the Cuomo vs DeBlasio feud, in which each tries to claim credit for "saving them", but the combination of the efforts actually makes their industry completely unprofitable.

...they seem to be stating that the politicians are hurting those they purport to be protecting.

While that is certainly plausible, I wonder how much of this is being led by management as opposed to laborers.

I find it curious that neither the website or the flyers mention the worker backed SWEAT bill.

http://fusion.net/story/184842/this-only-happened-because-people-organized-nail-salon-workers-speak-out-after-nyt-expose/

...the more I learn about today's closures, the more they seem to have been carried out by management:

https://twitter.com/VerdaFolio/status/636211483593048064

Rachel writes a piece:
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150826/crown-heights/brooklyn-nail-salons-protest-increased-regulations-with-one-day-strike

A Gothamist reporter told me he would likely run a piece as well.

Done:
http://gothamist.com/2015/08/26/nail_salons_protest.php

NYT today: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/nyregion/some-nail-salon-owners-in-new-york-push-back-against-increased-regulation.html

Air quality monitors are coming: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/nyregion/pilot-program-will-gauge-air-quality-in-new-york-nail-salons.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

 

NYS is attempting to make nail salons buy a bond that ensures they will pay wages:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20151002/BLOGS04/151009992/nail-salons-will-ask-court-to-block-cuomos-wage-theft-rule

The Assemblyman that created the new regulations on the nail salons is now stating the regulations go too far

.http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/09/nyregion/once-behind-nail-salon-law-assemblyman-now-opposes-reforms.html?ref=nyregion&_r=1

Here is a "worst case scenario"

"The Assemblyman that created the new regulations on the nail salons is now stating the regulations go too far"

...after taking thousands of dollars of donations from salon owners.