LAX-Contracted Janitorial Form Ordered To Pay Nearly $1M In Back Wages, Fines
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles janitorial firm catering to aviation companies has been cited by State Labor Commissioner Julie Su and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in back wages, damages and fines, the Labor Commissioner's office said Thursday.
Los Angeles-based Spirit Airport Services was ordered to pay $853,384 in wages and premiums, $88,122 in damages and $21,700 in penalties, according to the Labor Commissioner's office.
Each Spirit employee who cleaned cabins is owed an average of $5,173 for minimum wage, overtime, rest and meal breaks, officials said.
"Wage theft is a crime that disproportionately hits workers in low-wage industries," said Christine Baker, director of the Department of Industrial Relations. "The Labor Commissioner's office is helping them obtain the wages they are owed."
The Labor Commissioner began its investigation after receiving complaints from a watchdog group, Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, on behalf of Spirit employees in July 2013.
Spirit Airport Services is a contractor at Los Angeles International Airport whose employees clean planes between flights. Investigators questioned Spirit employees and reviewed documents that showed violations of wage laws between July 2012 and October 2013.
"Too often in industries like janitorial, workers are deprived of hard-earned wages because the contractor has to choose between making a profit or paying employees," Su said. "This citation is a reminder that employers who force their employees to work off the clock or to skip breaks to cut costs are breaking the law. And it should also serve as another reminder to those who contract for such services that contracts should be rewarded to those businesses whose pricing and practices demonstrate a commitment to following the law."
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