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Company Sued for Underpaid Atalissa Workers

By Daren Sukhram

Story Created: Nov 18, 2009 at 4:50 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 18, 2009 at 6:59 PM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - The U.S. Department of Labor says a Texas labor company and its owner broke minimum wage laws when they allegedly paid mentally disabled workers $65 a month to work in an Iowa meatpacking plant.

The civil suit filed in U.S. District Court says Henry's Turkey Service and its owner, Kenneth Henry, collected the wages earned by at least 32 men and in exchange offered them lodging and food.

According to the suit, the company routinely underpaid the workers, didn't keep payment records and failed to pay overtime.

The suit seeks to recover the unpaid wages and overtime, plus damages or interest on the wages.

In February, the state removed 21 men from a rundown home in Atalissa where some employees lived.

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