Victory For San Lucas Worker-Leaders At H20+ March 1, 2007 CHICAGO – Day labor workers who were unjustly fired returned to work at H20+ this week. Having been illegally dismissed for attempting to improve their working conditions, the company agreed to reinstate the workers with a pay raise along with holiday and vacation pay. "This is a true success for all of us," said Maria Luz Sosa, an H20 employee and member of San Lucas Workers Center (SLWC), "The president himself came to shake my hand and welcome me back." The workers were also reinstated through a code compliant day labor agency. (Code compliant agencies agree to provide humane, legal working conditions for day laborers.) Over 60 workers and their community supporters protested at H2O+'s owner Cindy Melk's home on the Gold Coast last Wednesday, February 21 against the illegal firings of H2O+'s long-time day labor employees. Workers demanded a meeting with the company to reinstate the workers. Two days later, SLWC met with H2O+. CEO Bob Seidl and worker-leader Maria Luz led the negotiations. Workers demanded that all fired workers be reinstated immediately, with a raise and benefits, and that four additional workers who were slated to be fired instead be retained. CEO Seidl agreed and also committed to no future retaliation or harassment on the part of H2O+ supervisors. This victory for day laborers is part of SLWC's Corporate Accountability Project. SLWC is holding companies directly responsible for the treatment of their day laborer employees and demanding these companies only use day labor agencies that sign and comply with its Community Code of Conduct. "Thanks to all our community supporters who called the owner, sent letters, and came out to the protest! We couldn't have gotten this victory without you, this victory is yours too!" said Paola Flores, San Lucas leader and long-time day labor employee at H2O+. Click here to read the Chicago Tribune's coverage of the SLWC press conference on the victory.