Janitors Sweep in more than $1 million in a suit against UPS and other major corporations

[billyoc]

When a janitor is hired and misclassified as an independent contractor and then is pushed to work for 60-plus hours without getting paid for his or her labor, something needs to be done. This is not a brand new issue; it has been going on a while at companies across the country and it affects a large Latino population working these jobs.

There were nearly 500 mostly Latinos cleaning UPS facilities, hotels and other businesses in Illinois and Texas who cleaned up a $1.2 million settlement announced on Monday in the latest in a growing number of lawsuits involving the failure of janitorial contractors to pay their employees according to federal overtime and minimum wage laws.

The workers will look forward to varying amounts up to $50,000 from the settlement. They were employed by cleaning firms contracted with UPS and other major corporations to provide services in Chicago, Dallas and San Antonio.

According to the lawsuit filed with the assistance of the SEIU, janitors were misclassified as independent contractors and worked as much as 60 hours a week without being paid overtime. The janitors’ employer also illegally stripped money out of the workers’ wages to pay for insurance that provided little if any benefit to the workers.

http://unionreview.com/janitors-sweep-more-1-million-suit-against-ups-and-other-major-corporations

[malaise]

1. This is beyond disgraceful

Gross exploitation of labour while those at the top live like plantation owners.

[Omaha Steve]

2. Big win

I'm sure the janitors appreciate the SEIU's help.