A publicity stunt — that’s what an attorney representing Andiamo Dearborn is calling allegations of discrimination and wage viola-tions made against the restaurant by a group of current and former employees.

“Andiamo Dearborn is being targeted simply because it is Andiamo, one of the best-known and well-respected restaurants in Michigan,” said attorney Marla Linderman.

The restaurant was identified in a press release issued Friday by Minsu Longiaru, a coordinator for the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-MI), “a worker’s center established to organize and support restaurant workers all over Southeast Michigan.”

The press release states that, “seven workers from the restaurant, together with the ROC-MI, are preparing to file a complaint against the company in federal court seeking back wages and assurances that the restaurant will comply with the law, pay minimum wage and overtime wages, and end discriminatory behavior.”

“These workers are only seeking what they’re entitled to under the law,” Longiaru said. “Given that the Andiamo Restaurant Group is among the best-known restaurant groups in the city, the company’s commitment to decent working conditions would send a strong message to the rest of the industry.

“Currently, the working conditions are far from setting an example for fair and just conditions for workers.”

According to the release, the workers are seeking $125,000 in damages for alleged minimum wage violations, unpaid overtime and improper wage deductions, as well as discrimination based on gender, race and national origin.

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