Judge slashes fine for Texas turkey processor accused of underpaying mentally disabled workers
By APThursday, August 5, 2010
Judge slashes fine for Texas turkey processor
DES MOINES, Iowa — A judge has ruled that a Texas company accused of abusing and underpaying several mentally disabled workers must pay just 15 percent of a fine proposed by an Iowa state agency.
An administrative law judge ruled that Henry’s Turkey Service must pay $174,660 for failing to pay the minimum wage to its mentally disabled staff.
Iowa Workforce Development, the agency that enforces state labor laws, had proposed a fine of $1,164,400.
Henry’s Turkey Service housed the men in a dilapidated bunkhouse in Atalissa, Iowa and put them to work at the plant in West Liberty. The bunkhouse was closed by the state fire marshal in February 2009.
State officials and representatives of Henry’s declined to comment on the case Wednesday.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, www.desmoinesregister.com
