More than 600 JFK security airport workers to split $700,000 payout
Washington DC Nov 11 2017 More than 600 airport workers who provided security services at JFK airport will split a $700,000 payout after their employer settled a class-action lawsuit for wage violations.
A Manhattan Supreme Court judge ordered Global Elite Group, also known as Global Security Associates, to cough up $720,000 as restitution.
The settlement covers Global Elite airport workers who were employed from October 2008 through last year.
The class-action accused the Queens-based security firm of shorting them on regular and overtime pay and dinging employees for unlawful uniform deductions in their pay.
Its employees were given legal representation in their class-action by SEIU 32BJ, which has waged an intense and successful organizing drive among airport workers since 2015.
Although many of the security workers weren’t part of the union when the complaints first began — and some are still not members — 32BJ included them all in the legal claim.
“We’re glad that these Global Security workers are finally getting the back wages they are owed. This is a great victory for the workers who stood up and stood together for fair pay and respect,” said Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ SEIU.
The union has also set up a wage theft hotline for any JFK employees who think they might be eligible for a cut of the $720,000 settlement but haven’t already registered as part of the class-action.
Steven Barnes, 27, who worked for Global for two years in 2011 — right out of high school and before he joined the military — said he was thrilled to learn he was getting some restitution.
“It was really messed up. I was earning about $9 an hour and they just never got my paycheck right. It was always a couple of hours short, like I’d work eight and they’d pay me for five,” Barnes said.
“They’d say, ‘We’ll add to your next paycheck,’ and of course they never did,” he said.
Barnes wasn’t part of 32BJ when he worked at Global Elite but he’s about to become a member now.
After a stint in the military, he returned to New York and got a new job with a different airport security firm — one that pays him more.
“I’m in the double digits now, so it’s getting better, and we’ve got benefits,” Barnes said. “And I’m excited to be joining a union, too.”
NY Daily News
