Hundreds of Climate Pledge Arena concession workers to get back pay after city investigation
This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com.
Hundreds of concessions workers at Climate Pledge Arena will receive back wages.
According to a press release from the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS), the city investigated Seattle Concessions Inc., a concessions provider at Climate Pledge Arena, for alleged violations of the Wage Theft, Secure Scheduling, and Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinances.
'The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay $353,280.76 in back wages, interest, liquidated damages and civil penalties to 685 employees, along with $1,164.28 in fines to the City of Seattle,' the release said.
According to OLS, the company did not provide employees with all required rest breaks, nor did it pay workers for some employer-initiated schedule changes under the Secure Scheduling ordinance.
OLS also said Seattle Concessions failed to provide proper written notice of Seattle's Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) ordinance.
'Breaks are extremely beneficial for customers, the business and the worker. They make workers better at customer service as well,' said Seattle Concessions Inc. employee Orion Penn in a statement included in the press release.
'It's important for workers to stand up for their rights because so many don't. So many are afraid, and so many can't afford to lose their jobs. But they definitely need to, and they should know that they are supported and protected.'
'Seattle's labor standards, including Wage Theft, Paid Sick and Safe Time, and Secure Scheduling, are designed to safeguard the interests of all workers, including those in the service industry,' said OLS Director Steven Marchese in the release.
'Labor laws help facilitate better working conditions and ensure workers in Seattle can operate free of retaliation in the workplace, earn a livable wage and have greater stability both in and out of the workplace.'
KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest have reached out to Seattle Concessions Inc. and Climate Pledge Arena for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
31-05-2025
- CBS News
Leader of Twin Cities violence intervention nonprofit charged with wage theft, swindling
The Hennepin County Attorney's office has charged a Twin Cities pastor with felony wage theft, and theft by swindle. Reverend Harding Smith runs a nonprofit called Minnesota Acts Now to provide violence intervention services. Back in July of 2023, several of his former employees told WCCO that he was holding back wages, and coercing or threatening them to volunteer their hours. At the time of our story, the City of Brooklyn Park did an investigation and found no payroll issues with its contract. But there was also a criminal investigation based on the employee complaints, which is how the state says it uncovered the alleged wage theft in a separate contract with Hennepin County. According to a criminal complaint filed this week, Smith signed a contract with Hennepin County in 2021, where the county would reimburse him to pay workers $35 per hour, along with some other expenses. The complaint says investigators found most employees were paid $20 per hour — a few got $25 or $30, but only Smith and his Wife were paid the full $35 per hour, leaving a nearly $150,000 discrepancy in payroll records. Prosecutors say that, in an interview, Smith acknowledged he paid employees less, but denied any fraudulent intent and said he didn't use funds from the group's account for his personal benefit. Smith's attorney calls the charges "baseless," and says Smith was fully transparent spending money on other operations' costs. He says Smith will fight the charges.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hundreds of Climate Pledge Arena concession workers to get back pay after city investigation
This story was originally published on Hundreds of concessions workers at Climate Pledge Arena will receive back wages. According to a press release from the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS), the city investigated Seattle Concessions Inc., a concessions provider at Climate Pledge Arena, for alleged violations of the Wage Theft, Secure Scheduling, and Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinances. 'The company settled the allegations and agreed to pay $353,280.76 in back wages, interest, liquidated damages and civil penalties to 685 employees, along with $1,164.28 in fines to the City of Seattle,' the release said. According to OLS, the company did not provide employees with all required rest breaks, nor did it pay workers for some employer-initiated schedule changes under the Secure Scheduling ordinance. OLS also said Seattle Concessions failed to provide proper written notice of Seattle's Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) ordinance. 'Breaks are extremely beneficial for customers, the business and the worker. They make workers better at customer service as well,' said Seattle Concessions Inc. employee Orion Penn in a statement included in the press release. 'It's important for workers to stand up for their rights because so many don't. So many are afraid, and so many can't afford to lose their jobs. But they definitely need to, and they should know that they are supported and protected.' 'Seattle's labor standards, including Wage Theft, Paid Sick and Safe Time, and Secure Scheduling, are designed to safeguard the interests of all workers, including those in the service industry,' said OLS Director Steven Marchese in the release. 'Labor laws help facilitate better working conditions and ensure workers in Seattle can operate free of retaliation in the workplace, earn a livable wage and have greater stability both in and out of the workplace.' KIRO Newsradio and MyNorthwest have reached out to Seattle Concessions Inc. and Climate Pledge Arena for comment.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Texas DPS arrests gang member, seizes 200 pounds of marijuana after chase, crash
The Brief Texas DPS troopers seized about 200 pounds of marijuana after a chase with a confirmed gang member last week. It happened in Brownsville, Texas. The gang member has been identified as 35-year-old Michael Anthony Montoya of San Juan, Texas. TEXAS - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) arrested a confirmed gang member and seized 200 pounds of marijuana during an Operation Lone Star (OLS) traffic stop in Cameron Co. last week. What we know On Monday, March 17, a DPS Trooper attempted to stop a black 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee on SH 48 in Brownsville. Troopers say the driver refused to stop and led the Trooper on a chase until he crashed his vehicle at an intersection. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper found eight plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana in the back seat and cargo area. The marijuana seized has an estimated street value of nearly $160,000 and weighed 200 pounds. The driver, Michael Anthony Montoya, Jr., 35, of San Juan, Texas, is a confirmed Valluco gang member. He has been charged with evading arrest and felony possession of marijuana. He was booked into the Cameron Co. Jail. He is no longer listed in the jail roster. What we don't know Officials have not said when Montoya bonded out of jail. The amount of his bond has not been released. The Source Information in this article is from a Texas Department of Public Safety news release.
