California prison employees file lawsuit demanding hazard pay during COVID pandemic
Correctional officers at a California federal prison are suing the federal government in a bid to force their employer to pay them hazard pay for working during the pandemic.
The lawsuit, brought by 51 employees of the Federal Correctional Institution at Mendota, says most of the employees deserve an extra 25% in pay for the hours they’ve worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At least 60 inmates and 30 staff members have become infected with COVID-19 during the pandemic, according to the complaint, filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on Monday.
The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to a request for comment.
The employees at the prison west of Fresno say a federal government code dictates they should receive hazard pay amounting to 25% on top of their normal wages if they are exposed to “virulent biologicals” at work.
Read more: https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article249017880.html
