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