Gold'n Plump Poultry Inc. has reached a $1.2 million settlement with its processing and cleaning crews in a class-action lawsuit that argued that the workers should be paid for their time spent putting on and taking off special work garb.
The settlement, to be divided among as many as 3,000 employees in Minnesota and Wisconsin, received preliminary approval Thursday from U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz in St. Paul. A final hearing is expected in April.
The agreement also puts workers on the clock while dressing and undressing, but within time limits to be set by Gold'n Plump.
"We feel it's a strong settlement," plaintiffs' attorney Gordon Rudd said. "We're happy Gold'n Plump stepped up to the plate and agreed to resolve the case."
In a prepared statement released Friday, the St. Cloud-based company called the settlement "a business decision" to avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation.
"It's important to emphasize the court did not decide the merits of the lawsuit in favor of either party," Gold'n Plump said.
The "donning and doffing" issue has been around as long as the industrial age. Floor workers have long argued that the time it takes to put on and take off their work and safety clothing at the beginning and end of each shift is part of their workday, and therefore they should be paid for it. At Gold'n Plump, that includes hairnets, aprons, body shields and rubber boots.
Companies often have argued against it on the grounds that other people -- office managers and bookkeepers, for example -- don't get paid for their time putting on suits and ties.
