http://66.225.205.104/JR20100602b.mp3
Twelve separate lawsuits alleging Bank of America cheats its hourly employees out of overtime pay have been consolidated into one big case that will be heard in a Kansas City courtroom. A U.S. District Court panel has consolidated the lawsuits involving more than 100 past and present Bank of America employees in five different states. Kansas City attorney Brendan Donelon has been appointed a lead counsel in the case. His clients are bank tellers and call center workers who are legally required to receive overtime pay. Donelon says Bank of America managers will either refuse to pay the overtime or ask employees change time sheets to reflect only 40 hours per week. Donelon says there is also evidence some Bank of America managers will go back and change time sheets to reduce overtime hours. A Bank of America spokeswoman says hourly employees do get overtime pay and that bank managers are trained to comply with wage laws. Bank of America requested the 12 cases be consolidated to avoid expensive duplication. Donelon plans to petition the judge for class action status in the case. He believes there are 180,000 Bank of America employees who may have been denied overtime pay in excess of $100 million. Bank of America has previously settled at least two cases with employees over similar claims, but did not admit to any wrongdoing.