NINE persons who worked in the construction of the Tinian Community Center project have filed a lawsuit in federal court against their former employers for alleged non-payment of overtime wages.
The plaintiffs sued Freddy U. Hofschneider and his V.H. Construction Equipment, Inc. for alleged breach of contract and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Minimum Wage and Hour Act.
The plaintiffs asked the court to order the defendants to pay their unpaid regular and overtime wages. They also sought for liquidated damages and punitive damages.
Two of the plaintiffs, through attorney Danilo T. Aguilar, said the defendants made illegal deductions from their pay checks. They demanded the reimbursement of these illegally deducted wages. Variety tried to reach the defendants for comment yesterday, but their telephone numbers listed in the directory were disconnected.
Aguilar stated in the complaint that the plaintiffs were hired by the defendants as heavy equipment operators, civil engineer, steelman, welder, construction foreman and chief mechanic.
Aguilar said his clients were required by the defendants on numerous occasions to work more than 40 hours a week in performing services for projects on Tinian.
The defendants, Aguilar said, paid the plaintiffs overtime at a rate less than what was required by law.
