LIUNA Begins Distribution of $55 Million Fair Labor Standards Act Legal Settlement with Indian Health Service in New Mexico
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Indian Health Service (IHS) employees in New Mexico will meet May 23rd in Shiprock from 9AM-5PM, May 24th in Gallup from 9AM-5PM, May 25th in Crownpoint from 9AM-1PM and Zuni from 3PM-5PM, May 26th in Acomita from 9AM-11AM and Albuquerque from 2PM-5PM to receive Suffer or Permit (SPOT) affiant payments and learn how to submit a claim online for unpaid entitlement to SPOT overtime compensation from the $55 million Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) IHS Justice Fund.
The check distribution and claims process is the culmination of seven years of litigation and negotiations led by LIUNA. This historic settlement agreement for $55 million will be distributed to current and former eligible IHS employees who had systematically been cheated out of compensation for overtime because of IHS violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act from 2006 to 2015.
"LIUNA is proud to have won a settlement agreement on behalf of thousands of dedicated and hardworking people at the Indian Health Service," said LIUNA General President Terry O'Sullivan. "This is a hard fought victory for the IHS employees who worked tirelessly to meet the health care needs of the Native American community but didn't receive fair compensation for their efforts."
LIUNA represents approximately 11,000 IHS employees; nearly 90 percent of the agency's workforce.
Events will be held at New Mexico IHS work locations to give out checks to employees who helped secure the settlement by cooperating with LIUNA in the investigative and litigation phase of the dispute. The LIUNA team and the Class Action Implementation Group, the distribution company chosen by the union to distribute the Justice Fund, will also show eligible employees how to file SPOT claims for future payouts from the fund.
Please note that we will be holding these events at IHS work locations in other states over the next few months. Notifications will be posted shortly with specific location, dates, and times.
Keep in mind that eligible employees may also receive compensation for unpaid entitlement to overtime, including capped overtime, and compensatory time. More information about this will be provided as a later date.
IHS employees are encouraged to go to the settlement website at www.liunaihsclaims.org or contact CAIG toll-free at: 1-855-342-2244.
The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers' International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America.
Contact:
Jacob Grayman
(202) 942-2246 or Email
SOURCE LIUNA
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