Schneider Logistics has agreed to a settlement of $21 million to bring an end to a lawsuit filed by six employees who claimed that they were being underpaid, forced to work in dangerous conditions, and threatened with termination when they complained. And no, they aren’t drivers. They’re lumpers.
David Acosta and five other workers employed by Schneider filed the lawsuit in 2011 because of the horrible working conditions at the Walmart warehouse where they were unloading freight. They claimed that many workers put in 16 hour days, seven days a week with no breaks or overtime, often making less than minimum wage.
“When we raised these issues, we knew it would be a fight. Schneider tried to fire us. Walmart tried to deny responsibility. But we knew that the law was on our side, and that Walmart was responsible for the conditions in the warehouse. This settlement vindicates us and our struggle for justice,” said Acosta.
While Walmart was not originally named in the suit, the federal judge presiding over the case ruled in January that Walmart would have to face trail as a potential joint employer. Walmart continuously claimed that they had no control over the workers, but the lawyer for the workers argued that since there were as many as a dozen Walmart managers at the warehouse at any given time who had control over the work at every level, they were both aware and legally liable for wage and hour violations at their warehouse.
“Walmart’s name does not appear on any of these workers’ paychecks, and the Walmart logo does not appear on the t-shirts they’re required to wear,” said a lawyer for the workers. “But it has become increasingly clear that the ultimate liability for these workplace violations rests squarely on the shoulders of Walmart.”
The settlement has been agreed to by both parties, but has not yet been approved by the judge. With different sources reporting different things, it is unclear whether Walmart will be expected to pay part of the settlement and how many other workers will be receiving a piece of the $21 million.
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Source: huffington post, peoplesworld
Typical, scum bag Walmart would be at along with a jag bag of a company like scheider. would be involved in this it sounds not surprised at all.
WalMart will never do the right thing….nor would any entity/corporation that could exploit humans; this is human nature. We’re just about there……another 200 years and we’re all gonna be extinct anyway…so what’s the difference??
I don’t buy Walmart canned mushrooms, sardines, tomatoes or whatever else is produced or packaged in China. As a matter of fact I quit shopping there altogether, they are a corrupt greedy corporation that should not be supported by anyone.
The bigger a company gets, the less they care about their workers.
Amen! I found that out real fast when I had a pinched nerve in my hip form the worn out seat. I finally decided back or job. There are other companies, just a phone call away. And that is what I did.
Check out Costco, they for the most part do right by their employees, and do well because of it (hire and retain quality employees).
What a joke. So what there saying again is a driver gets worse treatment than lumpers but yet even a lumper has more rights than the guy breaking his neck to get there. Dangerous conditions lol lol. What the new fork lift has to hard a seat. Ya I can see how putting boxes away can be dangerous. While the drivers have 16 hr days is forced to drive tired and spend long hrs at WalMart and all receivers and shippers listening to these guys bitch about how bad there job is lol.. But hey we don’t have drunk drivers drugged drivers, texting drivers, on phone drivers, arguing drivers, impatient drivers, road rage drivers, drivers who aim for us on purpose knowing there fault or not they will be paid etc etc etc. But ya lets not go there cuz no one not oida or no one will do anything to up pay get us more HM time and get the idiots off the road and hey while were at it lets dream and say that they will make shippers and receivers responsible to get us in or out fast and on time. Funny how the receiver held me 8 hrs so I was late picking up for same place. Get this they charged me 50 bucks cuz I was late. Told them they needed to pay me 100 for the 8 hrs they held me up. They lol and said we charge not you. So lets help everyone out and give them millions saying its unfair for everyone but the driver he’s just a piece of trash anyway…
you said it all bother and that is what they do I had to sit in one of places and I got there an hour before my drop time and sat there for 3 hours and been told i had to wait until morning to be unloaded because there was nobody that could unload a truck until 7 in the morning
I have never understood how you aren’t a wal mart employee, when they control 100% of your actions, once you bump the dock. I will be so glad to see them pay their fair share, IF that time ever comes!!! But, “too big to fail” keeps coming up!!!
Oh yeah, Schneider is no angle, either! I remember a dude named Tim Blazer, from Dallas. I heard he was in West Memphis, now. He was one of the most horrible people I ever met! He lied to me, on me, about me, and don’t even know me! But, that was trucking in the 80’s!!! he will get his, one day, I’m sure!
It’s sad that these sorts of work environments exist in this country even in companies as visible as Walmart and Schneider. I was told by a number of drivers that Walmart is a pie in the sky job. Is this true?
How can ANY!! truck driving Job be pie in the sky. Compared to what, Picking Cotton 20 hrs. a day
Its true only the truck drivers for walmart is a pie in the sky job but not the rest that work in the warehouses and stores.
Umm, no. The ones I talk to are paid very low wages. The option of $16 as an employee (with a very small benefit package) or as an agency driver (basically a broker) at $20/hr no benefits etc. Both Schneider and Wal-Mart have a history of poor employee treatment from what I gather, going back many years. Only a fool would work for either company IMO.
No one makes anyone work there. Why not just quit and get a better job? Oh….thats right, America has become the land of the attorney….let me sue my way to success.
Settlements are what companies like, but they aren’t good for the working man. Rulings from a judge are better because they set permanent precedents that can be used in future cases. Lately companies seem to be desperate to avoid rulings. I suggest that the two culprits here will pay the money and continue their derelict labor practices, because it’s cheaper.
If the facts in this story are accurate I definitely think the plaintiffs should not have settled.
Agreed! It is so easy for corporations to put out millions of dollars just to save millions of dollars now. Funny how they always make another billion though…
They are probably of the mentality that Sterling has. He gives them houses and cars and… food! WalMart gives people money, not, that they bust their asses for it. And yet they still have to receive food stamps and medicaid if they are “lucky” enough to have children. However, these lumpers are getting even less than that.
But at least the Walton kids worked really hard for their money.
Now when will DRIVERS ever Man Up and do something????
The lumpers did???
Heh, thumbs up!
My husband and I our team driver for schneider trucking right now, and we have been wage theft for several weeks.i filed a complaint and 1st went up my chain of command but nothing has come out of my driver manager Mike! Supposed to be on a 1 customer dedicated account, we have been pu cotton,mustard,bottles,God knows what else! On the toro account! Anyone work for these people having issues on this account?