Plaintiffs v Aramark
Fenway Workers Win Settlement Over Tips
Fenway Park food service workers who filed a class-action lawsuit against Aramark Sports have reached a settlement with the ballparks concessionaire, which they accused of pocketing their tips and service charges.
The $1.5 million settlement, if approved by a federal judge, would provide a minimum of $100 to short-term employees and tens of thousands of dollars to those who have worked for the company the longest.
The settlement, which received preliminary approval from the federal district court in Massachusetts, is part of a larger legal battle between food workers and their employers. Food service workers at Bostons two public convention centers agreed to settle a similar suit against Aramark for $1.75 million.
In both cases, the workers claimed that Aramark charged customers an administrative fee, which they said amounted to tips that employees never received.
Similar lawsuits have been filed against the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons hotels, Top of the Hub, and local golf clubs, among other establishments alleged to have violated the states tips law.
The Fenway lawsuit was brought in February 2008 by Michael Hayes, a bartender at the ballpark. Hayes and Brian Hickey, the other named plaintiff, will receive at least $25,000 each.
The rest of the money will be divided among hundreds of employees who provided catering services at events at Fenway and thousands of employees who worked in concessions between Feb. 14, 2002, and June 25, 2009. The settlement sets aside a disproportionate share of the money for employees who worked at catering events since 2005.
The plaintiffs asserted that Aramark violated other laws, including failing to pay wages and overtime. But the court dismissed those claims.
The employees have until Sept. 8 to file a claim for compensation.
For more information please contact:
Shannon LIss-Riordan
Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C.
100 Cambridge Street, 20th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
tel 617-994-5800 fax 617-994-5801
