Calif. AG Seeks $500,000 For Drywall Workers Denied Fair Pay

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. has filed a lawsuit against MDP California Inc. for “dodging fair wage and labor laws” by denying workers overtime pay, worker’s compensation and pay for all hours worked. He is seeking $500,000 in restitution for cheated workers.

MDP California, a Nevada corporation doing drywall installation throughout Southern California, also failed to pay state-mandated unemployment insurance, state disability fund payments, and state and federal taxes.

In late 2009, Brown launched an investigation into MDP California after being notified of possible worker’s rights violations. The subsequent investigation found hundreds of violations of California law.

Brown’s office also alleged that because the firm did not pay its workers a fair wage or pay state taxes, MDP California had an unfair advantage over its competitors and could underbid them for jobs.

Today’s lawsuit contends MDP California violated:

According to workers interviewed by Brown’s office, MDP California required workers to regularly work nine to 11 hours per day, Monday through Saturday and on sometimes on Sunday. None of the workers received any additional compensation for overtime worked.

One worker who was injured on the job was forced to take time off unpaid because he was not provided with any worker’s compensation.

The Attorney General’s investigation was conducted by his Underground Economy Unit. To protect mistreated workers, Brown created the unit in 2007 to investigate businesses for suspected violations of state wage and labor laws.

Source: AG