By Kari Lydersen

Detroit has been the poster child of the economic crisis, depicted as a ruined city, with its population bleeding away or hunkering down in squalid crumbling homes.

But contrary to this stereotype, life and work does still go on in Detroit for thousands of people. Among them are restaurant workers at Andiamo, an upscale Italian chain with several locations in the Detroit metro area. Hard times are not preventing these workers from standing up for their rights, as evidenced during two recent protests and the ongoing campaign of the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) to win tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and end alleged discriminatory employment practices at the restaurant.