Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $119,300 in back wages for 57 employees of Worldwide Flight Services, Inc., for work performed under a mail-hauling contract on Oahu. The firm entered into an administrative agreement with the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division to pay the wages as well as some additional fringe benefits.

“The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that workers are paid correctly for all hours worked," said George Friday, Regional Administrator, Wage and Hour Division. "In this case, the Labor Department has restored $119,300 to wage earners who keep this economy strong and growing."

The agreement resulted from an investigation conducted by the Wage and Hour Division that determined that Worldwide Flight Services, Inc., a subcontractor of Evergreen Aviation Ground Logistics Enterprises, Inc., had not paid the established wages on work performed for the U.S. Postal Service in accordance with the Service Contract Act (SCA). The company also had not provided all fringe benefit payments required by the contract. The investigation covered work performed between Sept. 14, 2001 and Apr. 5, 2002.

The Service Contract Act requires contractors who provide more than $2,500 in services to the federal government to pay workers at least the locally prevailing wage rate and fringe benefits. The Labor Department determines these wage rates and benefits, which are included in contracts mail carrier contractors sign with federal agencies.

The Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2003, a 21 percent increase over the record setting amount of FY 2002. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million in civil money penalties in FY 2003.

For more information about the Service Contract Act, call the Department of Labor’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), or contact the Honolulu District Office at (808) 541-1361. Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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