Tyson pays $32 million to settle wage lawsuit

WASHINGTON - Tyson Foods Inc. is paying $32 million to settle a long-running dispute over whether it should compensate poultry plant workers for time they spend putting on and taking off protective clothing.

In a consent decree filed in U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ga., Tyson agreed to make payments averaging around $1,000 per worker to about 17,000 current and former employees around the country.

Workers who sued the Springdale, Ark.-based company claimed meatpacking and food processing employees were deprived of thousands of dollars in lost pay for time they spent donning and doffing safety gear.

Tyson settled a similar dispute last year with the Labor Department by agreeing to change its compensation policy.

Tyson admits to no wrongdoing under the consent decree. The company has 117,000 workers worldwide

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/9/242052