Henry's Turkey Service, a Texas labor broker, might be in a heap of legal trouble when it comes to employment law.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Henry's Turkey Service has been accused of violating the the Fair Labor Standards Act. An employment lawyer is now seeing back wages for 37 workers plus interest and damages. According the the Houston Chronicle, Henry's Turkey Service sent hundreds of mentally retarded men to labor camps scattered throughout the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. The labor camp in Atalissa, Iowa had the alleged labor violations.
The men that worked for West Liberty turkey-processing plant in Atalissa allegedly had significant wages cut by Henry's as part of compensation for room, board, and care. The Houston Chronicle reports that the men's wages often averaged only 41 cents an hour. Yet Henry's is denying allegations that it employed the mentally retarded men.
The company claims that the Atalissa men "were all employees of West Liberty Foods while working at the West Liberty plant." However, federal records show that Henry's Turkey Service was the direct employer.
The Houston Chronicle also reports that it is illegal to house more than three dependent adults in an unlicensed group setting. The bunkhouse was not licensed by the state of Iowa and 21 residents had been claimed as dependent adults.
Time will tell how these complications will play out in court. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Social Security Administration have not yet disclosed the status of their investigations associated with the case, which will likely play a role in how the case is decided.
Related Resources:
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Employee Rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FindLaw KnowledgeBase)
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Q&A: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FindLaw)
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Texas Employment Lawyer Directory (FindLaw)
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