Here are the Facts…

Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I) allegedly violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by mandating laborers to work without pay by requiring them to perform “pre-shift work” or engaging in “work talk” while being transported by a mandatory transportation system before the start of their scheduled shifts.

“Pre-shift work” is where employees arrive to the worksite and are made to work prior to their scheduled shift — but they are only paid from when their scheduled shift begins.  

“Work talk” is when foremen or other supervisors require you to discuss work and responsibilities before your scheduled shift on the bus rides to the worksite that are provided by CB&I and other Defendants. 

If any hourly laborer is required to engage in this “pre-shift work” or “work talk,” they are entitled to be compensated for that time. By requiring laborers to work “off-the-clock,” CB&I deprived them of the statutorily required overtime premium of one and a half (1.5) times their regular hourly rate for all hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per workweek.

Know Your Rights…

In a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Lake Charles Division, employees (collectively, “Laborers”) of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company and other defendants have raised allegations of their employers violating the Fair Labor Standards Act. Plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and those similarly situated, bring claims of not being paid an overtime premium for all hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per workweek.

The Class which Plaintiffs Veronica Hampton and Sergio Hernandez seek to represent includes:

All Laborers employed by CB&I during the past three (3) years, who were not paid the statutorily required rate of one and a half (1.5) times their hourly rate for all hours worked in excess of forty (40) per workweek and are entitled to recover: 

(i) unpaid and incorrectly paid wages for all hours worked in a workweek, as required by law,

(ii) unpaid overtime,

(iii) liquidated damages, 

(iv) interest,

(v) attorneys’ fees and costs, and 

(vi) such other and further relief as this Court finds necessary and proper.

The Fair Labor Standards Act is the federal law that upholds federal minimum wage and required overtime pay. Overtime pay should be paid to the employee at no rate lesser than 1.5x their hourly rate.

Valli Kane & Vagnini LLP is the firm representing the Plaintiffs and is continuing to investigate allegations of wage and hour violations against CB&I. and other contractors. If you have any information that may assist in the investigation, please contact the firm using the contact form provided or by calling 1-866-441-2873.

Not all information submitted through this website or to the law firm is confidential.  However, any inquiry by an employee or others seeking legal advice is confidential as it is subject to attorney – client privilege.