California farm settles time and attendance lawsuit
A group of Fresno County farm workers will receive nearly $500,000 in compensation after their employer violated federal time and attendance legislation, according to the Fresno Bee.
The 82 employees of H&R Gunlund Ranches received "piece rate" wages for pruning and tying grape vines instead of minimum wage. According to California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), which represented the workers, some were paid less than $2 per hour of employee attendance - far less than the state minimum of $8.
CRLA attorney Felicia Espinosa explained that the amount each plaintiff receives will vary depending on how many hours worked. Some were employed for as little as several weeks while others worked for multiple seasons.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill approved the $915,000 settlement - $490,000 of which will go to the plaintiffs, while the remainder will be put toward attorneys' fees.
In October, the Warehouse Workers United union filed a similar class action lawsuit against logistics companies that began paying piece rate wages to warehouse workers last year.
The 82 employees of H&R Gunlund Ranches received "piece rate" wages for pruning and tying grape vines instead of minimum wage. According to California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), which represented the workers, some were paid less than $2 per hour of employee attendance - far less than the state minimum of $8.
CRLA attorney Felicia Espinosa explained that the amount each plaintiff receives will vary depending on how many hours worked. Some were employed for as little as several weeks while others worked for multiple seasons.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill approved the $915,000 settlement - $490,000 of which will go to the plaintiffs, while the remainder will be put toward attorneys' fees.
In October, the Warehouse Workers United union filed a similar class action lawsuit against logistics companies that began paying piece rate wages to warehouse workers last year.
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