Teamsters Support Connecticut Law Cracking Down on Illegal Employee Misclassification
28 February 2008 - 8:04AM
PR Newswire (US)
Serial Misclassification Abuser FedEx Ground Under Investigation in
State WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamsters
strongly support legislation before the Connecticut General
Assembly that would create a task force to review whether employers
are misclassifying workers as independent contractors. California,
New York and Michigan have already created task forces to review
serial misclassification by employers. The Connecticut bill would
review and coordinate the investigation and civil and criminal
prosecution of state and federal laws regarding misclassification.
The Connecticut General Assembly Committee on Labor and Public
Employees is considering this legislation. Connecticut authorities
are investigating FedEx Corporation [NYSE: FDX] subsidiary FedEx
Home Delivery for misclassification violations. Drivers from
Windsor, Conn., FedEx Home Delivery voted in 2007 to join Teamsters
Local Union 671. Numerous drivers have filed claims with the state
for violations of wage and hour and unemployment insurance laws.
The Connecticut Department of Labor and Unemployment Insurance
Board ruled some of the Windsor drivers were employees and not
independent contractors. Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal's office is in proceedings against FedEx to defend a
state determination of employee status. "The Teamsters fully
support the establishment of a misclassification task force in
Connecticut," said General President Jim Hoffa. "A multi-agency
task force will close the loopholes, seal the cracks and see that
all workers get the state protections and benefits they earn as
employees." "FedEx drivers in Connecticut are clawing back their
rights -- by joining the Teamsters and demanding the state enforce
its laws," said Teamsters Local Union 671 Secretary-Treasurer Dave
Lucas. FedEx's misclassifications are being challenged by state
governments. A preliminary IRS audit found that FedEx owed $319
million in back federal taxes plus fines and penalties. Founded in
1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4
million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and
Puerto Rico. DATASOURCE: International Brotherhood of Teamsters
CONTACT: Donna De La Cruz of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, +1-202-624-8721, Web Site: http://www.teamster.org/
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