Plaintiffs Prevail in UFW Suit Alleging Missed Break Time, Wages and Overtime Payments

A judge has ordered United Farm Workers of America (UFW) to pay $1.2 million for missed break time, wages and overtime that were not properly allocated to employees.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Willis in Monterey County, Calif. sided with approximately 160 UFW employees who told the court that UFW failed to pay for missed break time, wages and overtime for years.

Lead plaintiff Francisco Cerritos filed the lawsuit in 2014. He was a former employee under UFW. As the overtime lawsuit progressed, 21 additional organizers for UFW joined him as plaintiffs. Following certification, 64 employees opted out, the attorney for Cerritos told The Californian.

Approximately one-third of UFW employees involved in the missed break time, wages and overtime class action lawsuit as organizers are based in the Salinas Valley of the Central coast.

Giev Kashkooli, the second Vice President of UFW, stated that Judge Willis’ ruling was an “unfair decision” and plans to appeal the decision.

“We will appeal this unfair decision and we are confident a higher court will overturn today’s verdict,” Kashkooli stated in an email, according to The Californian.

“The United Farm Workers strongly disagrees with Monday’s Monterey court decision.” UFW maintains that “outsiders pay the plaintiff to disrupt efforts of the UFW to improve the lives of farmworkers. We are disappointed the judge did not require those receiving payment from outside agents to identify the source of those payments in pre-trial discovery.”

Kashkooli continued by stating, “The plaintiff is represented by grower sided attorneys including a former Western Grower Association General Counsel; the law firm also represents growers with current legal disputes with the UFW,” the news outlet states.

Cesar Chavez founded UFW in 1962, and the organization is currently the largest farm worker union nationwide. Many unions organize in areas where there is a high concentration of migrant farm workers. In Salinas, the UFW has been a strong advocate for immigrant rights as well as for the safety of farm workers exposed to pesticides.

Taking Legal Action over Missed Break Time, Wages, and Overtime in California

Despite laws and regulations being in place to support workers’ rights in California for decades, some employers are still being accused of neglecting to pay for missed break time, wages and overtime in California.

In some cases, new family-owned startup businesses that lack business information are to blame, but far more common is larger companies who may have noticed dwindling profits that demand more out of their workers without providing them additional compensation.

For hourly employees, California employers are required to pay appropriate wages, allow time off for breaks and properly pay overtime for employees who work more than a full day or workweek.

If you believe your employer is not properly compensating you for missed break time, wages and overtime in California, you may be able to take legal action to recover your lost compensation and receive fair pay for future work.

An attorney experienced with missed break time, wages, and overtime in California can provide you with a free case review and can let you know the legal options that are available to you in a no obligation consultation.

Join a Free California Wage & Hour Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were forced to work off the clock or without overtime pay within the past 3 years in California, you have rights – and you don’t have to take on the company alone.

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