New York Attorney General Letitia James indicts delivery giant UPS A new lawsuit filed Monday alleges he defrauded seasonal holiday workers out of millions of dollars in legal wages.
James’ office said in a statement that the investigation “found that for years, UPS understaffed the seasonal workers who keep the company running during peak holiday demand by not recording all hours worked, requiring extensive overtime, and manipulating timekeeping systems to reduce paid hours.”
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court 10 days before Christmas, alleges that UPS violated state and federal labor laws by failing to pay seasonal workers minimum wage, promised wages and overtime wages.
“Each year, UPS commits wage theft against these workers in myriad ways,” the civil complaint says.
The complaint notes that UPS employs thousands of temporary workers at at least 55 facilities in New York state during the busy season, which runs from October to January.
“While we are aware of the news from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, as a matter of policy we do not comment on ongoing litigation. UPS takes all allegations of wrongdoing seriously and is thoroughly investigating this matter,” UPS said in a statement.
“We provide industry-leading pay and benefits to our more than 26,000 employees in New York and remain committed to complying with all applicable laws,” the company said in a statement.
The lawsuit seeks to find that UPS repeatedly violated wage and labor laws, to enjoin the company from engaging in the alleged illegal conduct, and to pay monetary awards.
“UPS has built its holiday business on the backs of workers who are not paid for their time and work,” James said in a statement.
“UPS’s seasonal employees work grueling hours in the cold to deliver the holiday packages that families across the country depend on. Instead of fairly compensating these employees for their labor, UPS is playing the Grinch,” James said.
