100,000 Wal-Mart workers in Minnesota win $54 million settlement (wage & hour)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3876

Wal-Mart workers in Minnesota win $54 million settlement
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
9 December 2008

HASTINGS - Some 100,000 current and former hourly employees of Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in Minnesota – and the state of Minnesota itself – will share up to $54 million from the giant retailer under a settlement announced Tuesday.
The agreement is the final stage in a wage-and-hour class action suit that put a spotlight on Wal-Mart's practice of having employees work through their rest and meal breaks. In July, Dakota County District Judge Robert King ruled the company committed more than 2 million violations of the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act and ordered it to pay $6.5 million in back pay.

The judge then scheduled a jury trial to determine the amount of civil penalties and punitive damages. By reaching a settlement, the parties avoided going to trial.

People eligible for the settlement worked at Wal-Mart Stores and Sam's Clubs locations in Minnesota from Sept. 11, 1998, through Nov. 14, 2008. The agreement also includes "a substantial payment to the State of Minnesota," according to a joint statement released by Wal-Mart and Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, one of the law firms representing the workers.

"We are satisfied with this settlement, gratified that these hourly workers will now be paid after seven years of litigation, and happy that the State of Minnesota will receive the largest wage and hour civil penalty in its history," said Justin Perl, one of the attorneys for the workers.

"Wal-Mart is pleased that the court in Minnesota ruled in its favor on many claims," said Wal-Mart spokesperson David Tovar. "Our policies are to pay every associate for every hour worked and to make rest and meal breaks available for associates. Any manager who violates these policies is subject to discipline, up to and including termination. We remain committed to providing good jobs with real career opportunity to the 1.45 million U.S. associates who choose to work for Wal-Mart and serve our customers every day."


FULL story at link.

[bluestateguy]

1. How much do the lawyers get?

Just wondering.

[DoctorMyEyes]

2. Asshats...

Walmart = Asshats

"Our policies are to pay every associate for every hour worked and to make rest and meal breaks available for associates. Any manager who violates these policies is subject to discipline, up to and including termination.

Yeah, sure. That's why you had a widespread systematic failure of managers adhering to that policy. Wink, wink, nod, nod. Fuck Walmart.

[Sherman A1]

3. Precisely

One wonders just how many managers were fired over these violations? Me thinks perhaps..... none?