It’s been almost a year since the closing of Hamilton County’s largest employer and up to 1,500 former employees are expected to join in a class action lawsuit. The former workers of Electrolux Home Products are seeking back pay for time spent putting on protective equipment before they reported for their shifts.
U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett ordered appliance maker A.B. Electrolux to produce the names and addresses of hourly production workers at the plant between December, 2008 and December, 2011 so they can be notified of their ability to join the case. Lawyers say that about 1,000 of them have already expressed an interest in being part of the lawsuit.
The former workers say Electrolux required employees to arrive 15 minutes before their shifts to put on equipment such as armguards and gloves without pay. The company is fighting the case. On March 31, 2011, Electrolux closed its Webster City plant with the washer and dryer production now originating in Mexico.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City