Suit against retailer certified class action (Seattle Times)

[icymist]

Thursday, February 10, 2005 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.



Suit against retailer certified class action

By Christine Clarridge Seattle Times staff reporter

Seattle Times staff reporter

Shelby Port didn't particularly like the green pants and maroon tops that were part of "The Look" she was supposed to be promoting as a saleswoman at Abercrombie & Fitch one season.

And store manager Lindsey King wasn't too thrilled with the miniskirts she was supposed to wear daily during another seasonal promotion.

But what really got to them, they say, was that they and others had to spend their own money to buy the clothes or risk losing their jobs, according to a lawsuit filed against the clothing retailer by Port, King and other current and former Abercrombie employees.

The suit was recently certified in King County Superior Court as a class-action lawsuit.

"Well, I didn't want to have to show up every day in a miniskirt," said King, a former manager at the retailer's Bellingham store. "But the real reason I'm participating in this is because I know that what they were doing was unfair and I know they were taking advantage of the associates by making them spend more money to purchase clothes for work than they would even take home."

More:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002175826_abercrombie10.html

[icymist]

1. Now we can see how 'class action' lawsuits can effect employment

laws. eom

[Turbineguy]

2. My Union

always required employers to provide or pay for uniforms.

[havocmom]

4. Paying for uniforms not the same as paying for overpriced outfits to wear

for store promotions. Stores have LOTS of promotions in a year and not all styles work for all employees. This is forced consumption of their own stock and it is appalling. Sales associates do not generally get the same sorts of paychecks the stores voluntary customers get.

Basically this results in store clerks working for free.

[livinginphotographs]

3. Not excusing this...

But most of the mall clothes stores require their employees to wear clothing from the store they work in. I think it's fucked up, but that yuppie over-priced abomination that is Abercrombie isn't unique in that respect.

That said, I buy all my clothes from Target, so I don't have to deal with these people.