New York Post Oct 27th 2006 -Retailer 'Rat'ted Out By AG

By Suzanne Kapner

The owner of the Yellow Rat Bastard retail franchise is accused of living up to his brand name.

Henry Ishay has been charged with the failure to maintain minimum payroll records as part of a larger investigation by the New York State Attorney's General Office into wage and hour violations at parent company dba X-Treem Vibe Inc.

A court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15.

Ishay confirmed the investigation yesterday, but denied wrongdoing.

Attorney General spokesman Brad Maione said his office, acting on complaints, began investigating Ishay in June.

In response to a subpoena, Ishay was unable to produce payroll documentation. New York State law requires that employers maintain records for at least three years, Maione said.

Carol Daly, a spokeswoman for the Retail Action Project (RAP), an advocacy group for retail workers, estimates that Ishay owes employees $1.5 million in back wages. Employees were routinely required to work 75 hours a week, and paid as little as $5.25 per hour, less than the minimum wage of $6.75, the group said.

Employees also said the stores were overrun with vermin and that sexual harassment was commonplace, Daly said.

Yellow Rat Bastard is a "streetstyle" apparel brand that is sold in nine stores in the New York metropolitan area.