“Minnesota takes action against dairy company in major wage-theft case”

Minnesota officials have announced what they call one of the largest wage-theft lawsuits in state history. The case involves a dairy operator northwest of the Twin Cities.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison detailed the civil suit against Evergreen Acres Dairy…His office estimates that Evergreen owes its employees at least $3 million in unpaid wages. The state says most of those affected are migrant workers who were also subject to substandard living conditions in onsite housing.

Ellison said these workers showed a lot of bravery in sharing their experiences.

“This is an employer who’s not only paying their wages but also [is] their landlord at the same time, so they were concerned,” he explained.

The suit accuses Evergreen of exploiting vulnerable individuals who were forced to work demanding 12-hour shifts at least six days per week.

…Ellison’s office is pursuing civil penalties and for the company to end the practices it’s accused of. Management officials with Evergreen Acres did not respond to a request for comment.

Ellison added cases like these affect not only the workers, but also competitors who are playing by the rules…