There’s no denying it: the world feels heavier lately. Many of us feel a mounting sense of fear, anger, or even hopelessness as injustices seem to multiply and the fabric of our communities stretches thin. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, to wonder what any one of us can do in the face of so much.

But here’s the truth: there are things that work. There are things we can do.

When we take action to support the most vulnerable among us, we lift up our entire community. This is why Workers‘ Dignity // Dignidad Obrera exists—because fighting for justice is possible, and it makes a difference.

What Is Wage Theft?

Wage theft—when employers deny workers their rightful pay—is one of the most common and devastating forms of exploitation in the U.S. It costs workers between $15 and $50 billion every year, hitting low-wage and immigrant workers the hardest. This injustice forces hardworking families into poverty, increasing reliance on public assistance and fraying the bonds of our shared community.

And it doesn’t just hurt individual workers—it affects us all.

When billions are stolen from workers, families struggle to afford housing, food, and healthcare. Stress rises, violence escalates, and our local economy weakens. Wage theft robs entire communities of their potential and stability.

But there’s a solution.

What We Do

At Workers‘ Dignity, we fight wage theft through a proven, ethical, and restorative justice-informed approach. Since our founding, we’ve empowered thousands of workers to reclaim millions in stolen wages, restoring dignity to workplaces and strengthening our shared community.

This year alone, we recovered over $200,000 for workers—money that put food on tables, kept roofs over families’ heads, and helped parents provide for their children.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

Stories of Hope and Justice

Nidia’s Two-Year Fight for Justice: Nidia, a housekeeper in her 50s divorced after an abusive marriage, spent two years waiting for the $6,000 her employer stole from her. With her pregnant daughter unable to work and rent bills piling up, she turned to Workers‘ Dignity. Through our advocacy and restorative justice-informed process, Nidia finally received the money she was owed—just in time to welcome her grandchild into the world.

César and Aracely’s Fight for Their Son’s Health: César and Aracely were reeling after their 7-year-old son required three surgeries—first for an appendectomy, then two more to address complications. As their medical bills mounted, they were being denied $6,250 in wages from construction work they had already done. With our support, they reclaimed their stolen wages—giving them the financial stability to begin paying down their son’s medical debt and move forward with dignity.

Juan Pablo and a Victory for Many: When Juan Pablo wasn’t paid for his construction work, he thought he was alone. But Workers‘ Dignity showed him he wasn’t. After holding a public protest and mapping the power dynamics at his job site, he received the $2,530 he was owed. But the story didn’t stop there. We uncovered wage theft affecting more workers on the same project, and to date, we’ve recovered over $7,000—with more cases underway.

Why Your Support Matters

These victories remind us that even in grim times, justice is possible—and it works. Every stolen paycheck we recover transforms lives and ripples outward to strengthen our community.

But we can’t do this alone.

Your donation ensures we can continue this critical work:

• Fighting wage theft for those who have no one else to turn to.
• Empowering immigrant workers to demand dignity and fairness.
• Restoring justice and stability to families and communities.

Will you stand with us?

Together, we can take action in the face of fear and hopelessness. Together, we can prove that justice is not just an idea—it’s something we build every day.

DONATE NOW

In solidarity,

Workers‘ Dignity // Dignidad Obrera

P.S. Every dollar you give helps us fight for the most vulnerable—and by lifting them up, we lift us all. Donate today.