German FAU Mall of Berlin - Mall of Shame - Demonstration 25.4 (de,it)

6 months later, wages still not paid. We are therefore calling you, to support the 
workers´ demands and join us in solidarity to decisively bring this protest against the 
exploitation of migrant workers onto the streets! The struggle continues! ---- - Against 
the exploitation of migrant labour - Saturday: 25.4.2015. Start: 12 Uhr. Leipziger Platz 
12 (U-Potsdamer Platz) ---- Demoposter ---- Mall of Shame: Pay the workers! ---- In the 
meantime the "Mall of Berlin" has become a popular symbol of exploitation of migrant 
workers from the wider European Union ---- The story is now well known ... ---- Dubious 
middlemen hired hundreds of workers from Romania and other EU countries, promising them a 
good job on the "Mall of Berlin" construction site, food and accommodation, as well as an 
hourly rate of 5 - 6 euros. Finally, after 10 hour working days and a 6 day week - not 
even this ridiculously low wage was fully paid out. What´s more, money was demanded from 
the workers to get the free of charge (and compulsory) registration of their place of 
residence with the local authorities; they lived in hugely overpriced accommodation, and 
there was no adequate provision of food. Without their wages, the workers were forced to 
sleep on the construction site.

In autumn 2014 the workers began to point out the wages they were still owed. However they 
were systematically delayed through a web of subcontractors; firstly being appeased 
through promises of receiving their money, and then later being verbally and physically 
threatened. Throughout the whole process the exploiters counted on the worker´s 
non-existent German language skills and lack of knowledge about the German law, to prevent 
them from effectively reacting against their treatment.

However some of the workers, who were deprived of their wages, decided not to give in and 
go home empty handed to their families, but firstly to protest by themselves on the mall 
construction site, and then to organise themselves in the Free Workers´ Union (FAU 
Berlin), and fight for their wages.

6 months later, and still no wages

The site management company operating at the Mall of Berlin, Fettchenhauer Controlling & 
Logistic GmbH (FCL, Berlin), the investor Harald Huth and his HGHI High Gain House 
Investments GmbH (Berlin), as well as the dubious subcontractors which were hired, 
openmallmaster GmbH (Frankfurt a.M.) and METATEC Fundus GmbH & Co. KG (Berlin) have not, 
despite repeated calls from the workers and their union FAU Berlin during the last half 
year, contributed in any way to explaining the accusations of exploitation, nor arranging 
for the outstanding wages to be paid.

The reason for this is very clear. It was never planned to actually legally employ the 
migrant workers, and to pay their wages fully. The exploitation was and is wanted - there 
is a system behind it. Therefore it has been and will be contested by those responsible, 
that the workers even worked for them, and that they then have a right to receive payments 
from the companies.

Routine Exploitation

The situation of the former Mall-workers is absolutely not an isolated case. Systematic 
exploitation of migrant workers in Germany is almost standard, not only in the 
construction sector, but also for example in the hospitality and gastronomy sectors, and 
the logistics sector, where more and more companies are treading on the rights 
particularly of migrant workers for their own profits. Germany is building and increasing 
its wealth through such exploitation. In such cases, capitalism goes hand in hand in with 
racism.

It´s the same old story for politics in this country - we can see from the Senator Kolat 
that career politicians assume that their job is done after bringing out a few phrases to 
show their regret about the situation.

The former workers´ fight for their wages exemplifies how we must even fight again and 
again for the smallest and (by now) supposedly secure rights, such as the now lawfully 
decreed minimum wage.
All of our current rights- that were won through hard struggle by previous generations of 
workers - are in danger, when we don´t constantly defend ourselves against each and every 
attack.
We´ll only get our rights, when we also fight back.

It´s once again time to pay a visit to the Mall of Shame

We will make it clear that the investor, the responsible construction management companies 
and their subcontractors, can´t wait for this conflict to die down. This time they won´t 
get away unscathed! The workers will continue to struggle, until the demands are actually 
fulfilled.

We are therefore calling you, to support the workers´ demands and join us in solidarity to 
decisively bring this protest against the exploitation of migrant workers onto the streets!

- - - Current situation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This month (on 10., 14. and 20.4) the first court dates ("Güteverhandlungen") for the 
worker´s law suits will take place. The FAU Berlin and the workers reckon there will be a 
positive verdict (e.g. "Default Decree") with no imminent end to the fight. The firms 
being sued are expected to react with objections, or simply by non-fulfilment of their 
legal duties.
We will continue to fight for as long as it takes to make sure our demands are fulfilled!
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Demonstration
Saturday: 25.4.2015
Start: 12 Uhr
Leipziger Platz 12 (U-Potsdamer Platz)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1471789219728400/

https://berlin.fau.org/news/mall-of-shame-6-monate-spaeter-noch-immer-kein-lohn-der-kampf-geht-weiter?set_language=en&cl=en