Filed 11/17: U.S. Department of Labor v. Henry's Turkey Services (Atalissa) 'to recover unpaid minimum wages and overtime compensation'

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Des Moines Register/Associated Press, 11/18:

Iowa labor company sued for underpayment

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The U.S. Department of Labor says a Texas labor company and its owner broke minimum wage laws when they allegedly paid mentally disabled workers $65 a month to work in an Iowa meatpacking plant.

The civil suit filed in U.S. District Court says Henry's Turkey Service and its owner, Kenneth Henry, collected the wages earned by at least 32 men and in exchange offered them lodging and food.

According to the suit, the company routinely underpaid the workers, didn't keep payment records and failed to pay overtime.

The suit seeks to recover the unpaid wages and overtime, plus damages or interest on the wages.

In February, the state removed 21 men from a rundown home in Atalissa where some employees lived.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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