Federal Judge: Wal-Mart's Payment Of Truckers Violated Calif. Minimum Wage
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A federal judge has ruled that Wal-Mart violated California's minimum wage by paying truckers by the mile and requiring unpaid tasks. The company could owe more than $100 million in back pay for the workers.
The Fresno Bee reports that Fresno attorney Butch Wagner, whose firm represents 720 past and current Wal-Mart drivers, on Tuesday called the ruling a big victory for their clients.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco wrote that the company broke state law by not paying drivers for waiting in line, completing mandated paperwork and washing or fueling trucks.
Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove said the company disagrees with the ruling and says Wagner's interpretation of the law is wrong.
Hargrove compared it to requiring a housekeeper to be paid for each cleaning task rather than hourly.