http://www.necn.com/05/28/10/Pizza-shop-owners-take-state-to-federal-/landing.html?blockID=243498&feedID=4215Pizza shop owners take state to federal court
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(NECN: Brian Burnell) - A Connecticut family is taking the state federal court. They say the state is taking the "family" out of family business and they want the state labor department to butt out.
Grand Apizza in Clinton, Connecticut is a family business but the state of Connecticut is, in a sense, trying to break up the family. Mike and Migdalia Nuzzo own the place and usually their 3 children, ages 13, 11, and 8 are here, too, helping out. Not tonight or for the foreseeable future because of an anonymous complaint to the state labor department that brought in an inspector who told Mike...
Mike Nuzzo, Grand Apizza: "That you had child labor here."
Child Labor. His children.
Mike Nuzzo, Grand Apizza: "He told me that I couldn't have my children here with my wife helping us out."
Now understand. Its not like the kids are pulling pizza's out of 600-degree ovens. The 13-year-old helps in the kitchen while the younger ones are out in front.
Migdalia Nuzzo, Grand Apizza: "They're not in any harms way. My little one. My little one comes here. He helps us. He clears tables off. He greets the people. Grabs menus, "how many people?" Sits them down and the people love it. Love it."
And who's going to watch out for them more than mom and dad? Mike knows because its how he grew up... working in the family pizza restaurant.
Mike Nuzzo, Grand Apizza: "My mother and father taught my 2 brothers and my sister about family, tradition, respect, integrity and hard work."
Lessons he wants to pass down to his kids. They've filed suit against the state, not for money. They want the federal court to tell the state to stay out of their family life. People in town are behind them including other business owners nearby who have done the same thing.
Michael Kamercia, Clinton CT Business Owner: "My son was 12 years old when he worked at my dry cleaners and to have his son making pizza or spinning the dough. I think its great. It's a good family activity. I mean this is the fabric of America. This is what we're all about."
Donna Faulknor, Clinton CT Business Owner: "Would you rather have your kids here with you at your family business or home by themselves? I mean that's where they're going to get into more trouble. They're not going to get into trouble here with you being here."
Brian Burnell, NECN: "Its amazing as you talk to people about this story how many grew up the way Mike did, the way he's raising his family, frankly the way I did. Working in a family business. And that's the point that the Nuzzo's attorney is going to make to the federal court. This isn't a business issue. It's a family issue.
