USA: Cantu Harvesting reportedly breach USD130k settlement agreement with Mexican farmworkers over wages & substandard housing
Summary
Date Reported: 2 Aug 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Cantu Harvesting - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 11
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 11 - Mexico , Agriculture & livestock , Men )Issues
Occupational Health & Safety , Wage Theft , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Access to Justice & Legal ProtectionResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Cantu denied the workers' allegations in November 2022 and a lawyer did not respond to a request for comment in 2023.
Source type: News outlet
"Farmworkers accuse contractor of breaching $130k settlement of San Antonio federal wage lawsuit,"
Eleven migrant farmworkers have accused a South Texas contractor of breaching a $130,000 settlement over wages and substandard housing conditions.
Pablo Francisco Cantu, who runs Edinburg-based Cantu Harvesting, had been required to pay $60,000 by May 1 and $70,000 by Monday under the settlement in a San Antonio federal lawsuit. But he failed to make either payment, the workers allege in a Tuesday court filing.
They say they are now entitled to an additional $130,000 in liquidated damages, bringing the total Cantu owes to $260,000...
Seven of the workers, all from Mexico, sued Cantu and others in October 2021 alleging they were shorted wages, stiffed on travel expenses and placed in a “squalid” and “dilapidated” labor camp. Four others later joined the suit...
Cantu denied the workers’ allegations in a November court filing. His lawyer did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday...