EEEC Cites Widespread Labor Violations Among Bay Area Pallet Manufacturers
The Labor and Workforce Development Agency yesterday announced that Economic Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) investigators issued 49 citations for safety and labor violations--with fines totaling more than $567,000--in a recent sweep of San Francisco Bay Area pallet manufacturers.
The enforcement actions, conducted on Feb. 6 and 7, uncovered serious violations that included:
Failure to pay minimum wage;
- Failure to have workers' compensation insurance and not providing itemized wage statements;
- Disabled safety latches on circular saws and other power tools;
- Failure to supply safety equipment such as safety glasses or earplugs, and safety training;
- Working conditions such as ungrounded electrical equipment, workers ankle-deep in mud, no toilets on site, and illegal on-site dormitory-style rooms with no heat, plumbing, or electricity.
"California law provides protections for workers and it is our responsibility to ensure that the laws are being followed," said Robert Jones, the Labor and Workforce Development Agency's deputy secretary for enforcement. "We are investigating unscrupulous businesses like these for their mistreatment of workers and creation of dangerous working conditions. By targeting enforcement against illegal operators, we help level the playing field and restore competitive advantage to law abiding businesses and their employees."
To request a complete list of the violations and businesses cited, send e-mail to: [email protected]. For more information on the EEEC, visit www.dir.ca.gov.