Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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WACO, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against Texas Star Waco Inc. for failing to pay 281 current and former security guards $79,881 in minimum wage and overtime pay. Civil money penalties totaling $193,187 have also been assessed.

The complaint, which alleges violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), was filed in the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, Waco Division, following an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division in Dallas. In addition to Texas Star Waco, the suit names Texas Star Security, Texas Star USA, Ruth Ann Brown and Richard Renschler Jr.

“This is the third time the Department of Labor has investigated this company,” said Cynthia Watson, Wage and Hour regional administrator in Dallas. “Employees are entitled to receive the wages they have rightfully earned. The civil money penalty reinforces our commitment to ensuring that employers stay in compliance.”

The investigation, covering the period July 6, 2002 to July 16, 2004, determined that Texas Star Waco paid hourly employees straight time regardless of the number of hours worked per week; failed to keep accurate payroll records, and made illegal deductions that brought some employees’ pay below the minimum wage.

The FLSA requires employers to pay covered employees the minimum wage for all hours worked and time-and-one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records.

For more information about federal overtime laws, call the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the Houston district office at (713) 339-5500. Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.