Report: National Grid Slapped With Lawsuit By Workers Who Got No Overtime Pay
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Power and natural gas supplier National Grid has been hit with another lawsuit, this time by its own workers who said they never received overtime pay for extra hours during Superstorm Sandy, according to a published report.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, representing National Grid workers in Brooklyn and Queens, who said they had to work 12- to 16-hour shifts for up to a week to restore natural gas to customers during the storm, according to Reuters.
The workers claimed they were paid for standard 40-hour weeks at regular rates, even though they worked 60- to 80-hour weeks, Reuters reported.
The suit filed Thursday and seeks class action status. It requests unspecified damages and back pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which dictates that if National Grid is found liable, the workers could get double damages, Reuters reported.
National Grid also supplies power to Long Island, together with partner and power system owner the Long Island Power Authority. LIPA has been slammed with negative publicity as many Long Island residents have remained in the dark for weeks after Sandy.
The utility has been sharply criticized for leaving Long Islanders in the cold and dark for more than two weeks without estimates or clear instructions.
Many customers have demanded a company shakeup while elected officials have called for a federal takeover of the restoration.
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