Raided factory, workers make deal on owed OT

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Boston Globe

The former owner of a New Bedford leather goods factory raided by immigration officials early last year has settled a class-action lawsuit, agreeing to pay $850,000 to former employees who worked up to 16 hours a day but weren't paid overtime.

The lawsuit alleged that Michael Bianco Inc. set up a sham corporation, Front Line Defense Inc., to avoid paying overtime wages to employees, many of whom were illegal immigrants. Employees who worked more than eight hours on the same day were required to clock out of day shifts at 5 p.m. from Michael Bianco Inc. and then clock back in for evening shifts at 5:30 p.m. with Front Line, the suit alleged. The workers received two separate checks, to make it appear they had not exceeded the 40 hours a week that would trigger time-and-a-half overtime pay, the suit says. The company made military backpacks and other equipment for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Most of the time, the workers were doing the same work on the same machine as they did during the day," said Audrey Richardson, senior attorney for Greater Boston Legal Services, which represented workers in the case, along with Philip Kassel, an attorney with South Coastal Counties Legal Services. Richardson spoke yesterday during a news conference to announce the settlement.

Michael Bianco Inc. was sold last year to Eagle Industries of Fenton, Mo.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/19/raided_factory_workers_make_deal_on_owed_ot/