(The Center Square) — One of the nation's largest delivery companies is accused of being a "Grinch" by chiseling its seasonal workers out of holiday pay.
In a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court, New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that Atlanta-based United Parcel Service "stole" wages from seasonal workers last year, including "Driver Helpers" and "Seasonal Support Drivers" who assist full-time staff with package delivery around the holidays. The democratic AG said the company practices have "repeatedly" violated state and federal labor laws on seasonal pay.
"Each year, UPS commits wage theft against these workers in myriad ways," James wrote in the 21-page complaint. "Seasonal Delivery Workers have worked off-the-clock before the beginning of the shift, after the ending of the shift, and at various other times, including at the beginning and end of employment, between shifts, and during meal breaks.'
"Additionally, UPS’s timekeeping practices and edits to records have introduced and compounded timekeeping errors," the complaint reads.
The lawsuit claims that during its peak season, which runs from October to January, UPS hires thousands of temporary workers at at least 55 facilities in New York state. But the companies practices deprived those workers of millions of dollars in pay, according to the legal challenge.
James said she is seeking back pay for UPS workers in New York and a court order requiring the company to end off-the-clock work and to overhaul its timekeeping and payroll practices.
"UPS built its holiday business on the backs of workers who were not paid for their time and labor," James said in a statement. "UPS's seasonal employees work brutal hours in the cold to deliver the holiday packages families across the country count on. Instead of compensating these workers fairly for their labor, UPS has played the Grinch."
The company, which employs nearly 500,000 people worldwide and reported more than $90 billion in revenue last year, issued a statement dismissing the claims in the lawsuit and saying it doesn't underpay its seasonal workers.
"UPS takes all accusations of wrongdoing seriously and denies the unfounded allegation of intentionally underpaying UPS employees," the company said. "We offer industry-leading pay and benefits to our more than 26,000 employees in New York, and we remain committed to following all applicable laws."
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