Former workers say spending for disabled men's meals was cut

A couple who helped supervise and care for workers with mental retardation who lived in a bunkhouse in Atalissa said they were told to cut spending on groceries for the men, some of whom were later found to be malnourished.

Dru and Randy Neubauer testified Monday at the hearing over claimed labor violations by Texas-based Henry's Turkey Service, which allegedly provided workers to West Liberty Foods, a food processing plant.

The workers received just $65 per month out of their paychecks for full-time work, with deductions taken out for room and board and care, testimony showed Monday.

In February 2009, state officials found the 21 men living in what has been described as a deplorable situation with boarded-up windows at the Atalissa bunkhouse. State officials on Monday described hazardous conditions in the bunkhouse, with fire safety issues and sanitary concerns.

The state alleges Kenneth Henry and Jane Johnson, doing business as Henry's Turkey Service, and Hill Country Farms failed to pay workers the minimum wage, failed to provide pay stubs to workers and took illegal deductions from their paychecks.

They are facing a possible $100 penalty for each of 9,000 alleged wage violations, or up to $900,000 in total. Henry and Johnson have appealed those violations, which are at the center of a hearing before an administrative law judge this week.

Dru Neubauer testified she worked for Henry's Turkey Service until last year, preparing meals, paying bills, taking the men to doctor's and dentist appointments, and generally supervising their daily activities.

Neubauer said she would spend about $4,000 every two weeks to feed the men, but she was told by her employer to cut back spending to $2,000 every two weeks for groceries, cleaning and laundry supplies, toilet paper and other household items.

“We cut way back,” Neubauer said.

Toward the end of 2008, she said, spending went down to about $1,000 every two weeks.

And that wasn't the only way the Neubauers said they were told to cut back.

Randy Neubauer, who worked for Henry's Turkey Service, provided maintenance for the company and supervised workers at the plant. He said he tried to replace deteriorated plywood over windows but was denied permission.

“I was told I could not spend any money,” he said.

Henry and Johnson are expected to present their side of the case today.