Deliverymen To Receive $3 Million In Back Wages

Attorney General Spitzer said today that an estimated 400 deliverymen who worked for a New York City supermarket chain over the past six years will share in a $3 million settlement covering back wages and overtime.

The settlement resolves a state lawsuit filed by Spitzer on the workers' behalf in January, as well as a similar suit filed in federal court by the National Employment Labor Project (NELP).

"This is a great day for workers," Spitzer said. "These individuals, most of whom are recent immigrants from West Africa, will receive between $30,000 and $60,000 depending on the hours and length of time that they worked. "

"The settlement will send a strong, clear message that companies must abide by the law in employing deliverymen," the Attorney General said.

In his lawsuit, Spitzer's alleged that the Food Emporium had paid deliverymen between $1.25-$1.75 an hour. The state requires that delivery people be paid $3.20 an hour, plus whatever tips they earn.

Spitzer commended A&P, the parent company of Food Emporium, for reaching the voluntary settlement and setting a new standard for companies that use delivery people. The Attorney General noted that his investigation into other stores, including Gristedes and Duane Reade, is continuing.

sitemap Intergov foil PressOffice RegionalOffices SolicitorGeneral AppealsandOpinions ConvictionBureau Investigations TaxpayerProtection PublicIntegrity MFCU OCTF CrimPros AIFU Antitrust ConsumerFrauds Internet InvestorProtection RealEstateFinance Charities CivilRights Environment HealthCare Labor Tobacco CivilRecoveries Claims Litigation RealProperty SOMB Budget LegalRecruitment Human Resources Bureau