Attorney General Sues Service Plaza Operator for $6.1 Million

Hundreds of workers, many Latino immigrants, have been wrongfully paid below the minimum wage for years by Project Services, state contractor for food service at highway rest stops.

if a lawsuit filed by Attorney General William Tong is upheld, these workers will receive back pay and damages of $6.1 million

“It’s certainly the largest amount we’ve sought in damages in my term in office,” said Tong. “These workers did their job, and they deserve to be paid their full compensation.”

Project Service subcontracts with the operators of fast food outlets like Dunkin, Subway, Chipotle, Panda Express, Taco Bell and McDonald’s.

State law guarantees the minimum wage to food service workers employed by state contractors. Until recently, few if any complied.

In 2018 workers began organizing with SEIU 32BJ They filed so many complaints the Department of Labor launched a major investigation.

In August 2020, George Michell’s McDonalds stores agreed to pay 264 workers nearly $900,000 in back pay, and over $35,000 in civil penalties for failing to pay the Standard Wage.

But an estimated 800 workers are still being underpaid at 23 other fast food outlets on I-95, I-15 and I-395.

“Project Service was put on notice years ago that their subcontractors were underpaying workers in violation of state law. They have continuously refused to make their workers whole despite repeated warnings and demands,” said Tong

“We are left with no choice but today’s legal action to compel Project Service to repay $2.7 million in unpaid back wages, as well as $2.7 million in additional penalties and damages to ensure this egregious wage theft never occurs again.”

Robert Thomas, a worker at Dunkin Donuts at the plaza on I-15 North Haven said, “To some people, the difference between $16 and at least $18.21 might not seem like a lot, but to me it would make a huge difference.”

“These workers struggle daily to make ends meet, while employers like the giant Applegreen Corporation, which runs every Dunkin on the plazas as well as Project Service itself, can well afford to do the right thing and pay workers fairly.,” said Rochelle Palache, head of 32BJ SEIU in Connecticut.

She said the union will continue to fight for the workers rights as the lawsuit works it's way through the courts.