L&I says Boeing stiffed its workers on travel pay

The following is from the NorthWest Labor Press:

As part of a voluntary settlement, Boeing has paid over $11.5 million to 495 employees to resolve complaints that it failed to properly pay and account for required travel time. The case began in November 2022 with complaints filed by four workers who were performing aircraft maintenance overseas for Boeing. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) investigated and launched a broader probe into travel pay policies for workers in Washington.

It was the largest back pay settlement in L&I history. Individual workers received amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $90,000.

Under the law, Washington companies must pay workers for time spent on mandatory travel and on-the-job related activities while on a required work trip. Employers also owe overtime and sick leave accrual based on those hours. Unlike federal wage and hour law, which excludes certain travel time, all travel time related to work is considered work time under Washington law.

“Work travel is still work—and we want to ensure Washington businesses understand what they owe to their workers who are on the road,” said L&I Director Joel Sacks in a May 30 agency statement announcing the settlement.

This article first appeared in the Northwest Labor Press and is cross posted at The STAND with the author’s permission. 

Previously at The STAND (March 27, 2024) — SPEEA wins reinstatement for 7 Boeing pilots in labor case