HOUSTON – Several canvassing workers submitted a wage theft complaint on Wednesday against a city council candidate after they alleged they have not been paid for helping with his campaign, according to a news release from civil rights organization FIEL.
The workers and FIEL submitted the complaint to the city of Houston secretary against City Council District J Candidate Ivan Sanchez.
FIEL said they have evidence that the workers were subjected to bad labor practices, and they were told they would receive work and bonuses, but this was not the case.
Two canvassers spoke during a news conference on Wednesday and showed evidence of them working for the campaign and text messages of their conversations with people allegedly affiliated with Sanchez’s campaign.
Hosman Santana said he traveled from Austin, Texas to work for Sanchez, and he worked for several days.
“We worked about five days and are still waiting for our payment,” he said. “We are here fighting for our rights so that way nobody else can fall for the trap.”
Santana said he was supposed to be paid $30 per hour plus commission. He went to knock on people’s doors, handed out yard signs, and got commitment cards from voters to support Sanchez.
He said he was promised to be paid $300 to hand out commitment cards and yard signs.
Santana also said people with Sanchez’s campaign told him that they had agreed on a trial period, so he wouldn’t be paid. But according to him, they had previously agreed on payment and a trial period was not mentioned.
KPRC 2 reached out to Sanchez for a statement and we have not received a response.