Employees at National Beef Packing Co.'s Liberal, Kan., slaughterhouse have filed a lawsuit against the company and are seeking unpaid wages and overtime. The suit was filed on behalf of more than 2,000 employees and claims that they are not being paid for the time it takes them to put on and take off their protective gear, reports CBS News.

It claims employees have been systematically underpaid for the time it takes to take off and put on protective gear during unpaid meal breaks, walking to and from production lines, waiting in line for equipment, waiting in line to clean equipment and cleaning equipment. It also contends they were not paid while waiting when the production line was not running.
Mark Kistler, the Overland Park attorney who filed all three lawsuits, said in a phone interview that "gang time" is used throughout the meatpacking industry.
"I am well aware violations of the law in this industry are pervasive," Kistler said. "Unless and until meat processing employers stop breaking the law, I will be more than happy to sue them."

The suit seeks unspecified damages for unpaid wages, as well as attorney fees and court costs.

Source: CBS News