Workers File Class Action Suit Against Walmart
By aaroncynic in News on Oct 24, 2012 8:20PM
A federal class action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Monday accuses Walmart and two of its staffing agencies of breaking minimum wage laws, Crain's Chicago Business reports. The lawsuit against Walmart, Labor Ready Midwest, Inc and QPS Employment Group alleges temporary workers were required to arrive early and stay late for work, work through breaks, and participate in training for which they weren’t paid. The suit claims the staffing agencies failed to provide Walmart workers with proper wage payment notices and other information about their employment.
Twanda Burk, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said in a press release “I only get paid minimum wage and Labor Ready and Walmart still try to cheat me by not paying me for the time I actually work.” The release also says Walmart failed to keep accurate records regarding time put in by workers.
A spokesperson for Walmart told the Huffington Post the complaint was still being reviewed, but based on the press release, the “litigation is being driven by the same union organizations that have been mischaracterizing several issues about Walmart and are more concerned with creating publicity than with improving workers rights.” Earlier this month, workers at a Walmart distribution center in Elwood, Illinois ended a strike after the Walmart contractor RoadLink suspended them for demanding better hours and a living wage.
In addition to the lawsuit and strike in Elwood, Ill., Walmart has faced several walkouts across the country for their labor practices. A group called OUR Walmart, which is backed by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, helped organize a first-ever walkout in 28 stores across the country earlier this month. The group has said they will organize another walkout on Black Friday this year.