NEW HAVEN–It’s a popular New Haven eatery that pokes fun at the underworld of mobsters and wise guys. But now, Goodfellas Restaurant is once again facing sinister accusations from former employees claiming abusive work conditions.
Five former employees of Goodfellas, at 702 State St., allege in a federal lawsuit filed Friday that the owners are in violation of state and federal labor laws, specifically related to stolen wages and unpaid overtime.
“The workers also bring this action to expose Goodfellas Restaurant for its practices of forced labor, racketeering and discriminatory harassment of employees,” said Zachary Manfredi, a Yale Law School student intern who works in the school’s Worker and Immigration Rights Advocacy Clinic.
Abimael Perez, one of the plaintiffs, worked at Goodfellas for the last half of 2014, and was paid $500 a week in cash. Through an interpreter, Perez said he has never worked for anyone worse than Goodfellas’ co-owner and head chef Gerry Iannaccone.
“Gerry would scream at us and accidents would happen,” said Perez. “He made us work too fast and gave us no protection. I have injuries all over my hands that haven’t gone away.”
Carlos Gonzalez, who worked for Goodfellas for less than two months earlier this year, alleges Iannacone regularly made fun of the fact that he is gay.
This is at least the third time Iannaccone and Goodfellas have been brought to the attention of labor officials. In 2009 and 2010 they were cited for wage related issues, “and were required by the federal Department of Labor to pay over $30,000 for wages illegally stolen from workers,” said Manfredi.
Burns, bruises and other physical and emotional harm also resulted from the owners abuse, according to the lawsuit.
“The bosses also employed fraud and deception to conceal their crimes, while threatening and intimidating the workers to prevent them from seeking legal regress,” added Manfredi.
Chalres Tiernan, Goodfellas’ New Haven-based attorney, says his client denies claims made in various news reports and that they have not even been served with the lawsuit yet. Therefore, they will reserve further comment for now.
If not settled prior to trial, the compensation sought would be determined by a federal jury.
“However, we can say that we think (the award) will be in excess of the $30,000 that was required to be paid by the Department of Labor for other workers, who Goodfellas Restaurant had exploited,” said Manfredi.
This suit was filed in federal, not state, court because there are components of the suit that fall under federal jurisdiction, including the racketeering and forced labor charges.
