Security firm Andrews Int'l still owes $1,800,000 for 5 Wage Theft settlements, + 4 suits pending

Andrews International, one of the nations largest security firms is still facing 4 law suits for Wage Theft after already having settled 5 Wage Theft suits for $1.8 million in back wages. There are other allegations of Andrews International labor law violations in NYC and LA.

http://insecurewithandrews.org/press/

As Wage Theft Rises, States and Cities Crack Down

AP piece in New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/12/17/us/AP-US-Immigrants-Wage-Theft.html

New York State Dept. of Labor: Nearly $88,000 owed to 93 Ithaca restaurant employees

An investigation into 22 Ithaca restaurants by the New York State Department of Labor found that only five were completely compliant with the states labor laws, and that six of the 17 restaurants in violation owed 93 of their workers a total of $87,925.

http://readme.readmedia.com/Targeted-Labor-Department-Investigation-Finds-Ithaca-Restaurant-Workers-Victimized-by-Wage-Theft/993943

The article in the local paper,

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20091210/NEWS01/912100428/Ithaca+restaurants+cited+for+labor+violations

300 Wal-Mart warehouse temp workers file class action Wage Theft lawsuit

300 workers from a Chicago area Walmart warehouse are filing a class action lawsuit against their subcontractor for infractions including splitting pay-checks so as to evade overtime payment, as well as not receiving full payment for the hours worked.

http://communitymediaworkshop.org/newstips/?p=1057

and,

http://trueslant.com/clairebushey/2009/12/10/we-are-being-defrauded-worker-says/

Wal-Mart pays $40,000,000 to 87,500 employees after 8 year Wage Theft suit, largest in MA history.

Initially filed in 2001, a class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart was settled for Wage Theft violations including denied breaks, unpaid overtime, and manipulated time cards, for $40 million to be paid to 87,500 current and former employees with each receiving between $400 and $2,500 for an average of $734 per employee.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/03/wal_mart_will_pay_40m_to_workers/?page=1

Marc's grocery store chain pays over $426,000 to employees for overtime violations: ABC News affiliate WYTV

Due to last Tuesdays court ruling, employees from Marc's grocery stores both in Ohio and Connecticut will receive a settlement of more than $426,000 from fees for overtime violations.

http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Court-Rules-in-Favor-of-Marcs-Workers/gOxDbGHnVk2wcD1cdPyqfA.cspx

Michigan wage and hour division collects $2.3 million in unpaid wages and benefits for workers

The state of Michigan’s Wage & Hour Division collected more than $2.3 million in unpaid wages and fringe benefits in fiscal year 2009 that were due workers in the state.
The Division investigates complaints alleging non-payment of wages and fringe benefits, state minimum wage, overtime, equal pay and prevailing wage. It also monitors youth employment standards, including hours of work and safe, non-hazardous working conditions.

http://www.michnews.org/2009/11/michigans-wage-hour-division-collects-2-3-million-in-unpaid-workers-wages-in-fy-2009/

8 DC day laborers recover $10,000

With the help of DC Jobs with Justice, and the DC Employment Justice Center, eight day laboreres in Wasington D.C. recovered $10,000 for underpayment by a contractor working on a DC public school building.

http://www.jufj.org/node/418

British employer pays US workers almost $400,000 in backwages

RBG USA Inc. underpaid 482 contract engineers, construction and technical personnel.
RBG USA Inc. is a subsidiary of Aberdeen, Scotland-based RBG Ltd. and provides engineering services to oil, gas, petrochemical and wind-power industries.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6727515.html

New York Wage Theft law goes into effect this week: Highlighted in L.A. Times and Washinton Examiner

A new New York law encourages those who have experienced wage theft to come forward by increasing reprocussions against employers who retaliate against their employees for pursuing wage recovery.

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-labor-law-whistleblowers-new-york,0,6454946.story

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/economy/ap/ny-law-encourages-victims-of-wage-theft-to-come-forward-toughens-whistleblower-protections-76340062.html

Press conference for one woman in El Paso seeking back pay

On Thursday, November 12th, Gabriela Barraza represented by Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project, filed a complaint in state court to recover unpaid wages and other damages from an John and Lupe Garcia of El Paso Texas. She is seeking $1,500 in unpaid wages due to the Garcias failure to follow federal minimum wage laws.

http://laborjusticecommittee.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/press-conference-11-12/

Seven Dearborn restaurant workers seeking $125,000

After a recent demonstration outside of an Andiamo restaurant in suburban Detroit, and a previous action at an Andiamo in Dearborn on Nov 5th, ROC Detroit will be filing a federal clain for $125,000 on behalf of seven workers after they experienced improper wage deductions, and unpaid overtime.

http://labornotes.org/blogs/2009/11/restaurant-workers-tell-fancy-dining-chain-quit-stealing-wages

New Wage Theft bill proposed in Ohio

NPR covers a new bill adressing the issue of Wage Theft recently introduced to the Ohio legislature.

http://www.wksu.org/news/story/24455

Sudden closure of InkStop Inc. deprives ~500 employess of their wages for last weeks worked

Activists demand unpaid wages from InkStop Inc. in Lakewood, Ohio.

InkStop Inc. suddenly closed their 152 stores in 14 states on Oct 1, 09, leaving their 500-some employees out of work, and with only a fax, phone call, or email stating that InkStop Inc. will not pay them for having worked the last weeks of September.

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/10/activists_demand_that_inkstop.html

New York, Montana, & New Jersey intend to sue FedEx Ground over Wage Theft misclassification practice.

The attorney generals in New York, Montana, and New Jersey have announced their intent to sue FedEx Ground for violating labor laws by unlawfully misclassifying workers as independent contractors. This has deprived them of thousands of dollars in out of pocket work related expenses, and benefits, as guaranteed by law.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/media_center/2009/oct/oct20a_09.html

D.C. day laborers, $15,000 underpayment settlement for 8 workers

After wages were not as promised, 8 Washington D.C. day laborers were found to be entitled to a higher prevailing wage for working on a "public" project. The contractors in violation of the law were ordered to pay back wages totaling $15,000 to the 8 workers.

http://www.jwjblog.org/2009/10/dc-day-laborers-step-up-efforts-to-stop-wage-theft/

L.A. Times: Labor advocates push for law making wage theft a criminal offense in L.A.

Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon plans to introduce a motion on Tuesday directing the city attorney’s office to write an ordinance that would criminalize nonpayment of wages. This would change the current situation from where an employer is currently only at risk of a civil suit for non-payment to where prosecutors would be allowed to charge the employer with a misdemeanor.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/10/labor-advocates-push-for-wage-theft-law.html

Florida Wage Theft statute highlighted in Florida CBS news

In Florida, employers may be sued for Wage Theft and if they are found guilty, they are required to pay back not only what was owed to the workers, but also the attourneys fees.

Due to the quantity of these cases, employees are encouraged first try and settle individually with their employers before seeking litigation.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/63146152.html

Building Materials Holding Corp.: 85 workers / $475,000 in wage settlement

Building Material Holding Corp. based in Boise ID, is ordered to share $244,000 among 85 workers as well as paying 231,000 in legal fees.

Issues of wage theft included unpaid overtime, not being paid for time between work sites, and fraudulent time sheets.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/928831.html