TITLE: BlueOval Battery Plant Faces Wage Theft Lawsuit Over Unpaid Labor
Workers Allege Off-the-Clock Labor at BlueOval Battery Plant
Former employees at BlueOval SK’s Kentucky battery plant have filed a lawsuit alleging the company paid workers for scheduled time rather than actual time worked, raising significant concerns about wage practices at the electric vehicle facility.
Lawsuit Details Unpaid Pre-Shift Work
A former production operator and production technician filed the class-action complaint against BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and Korean manufacturer SK On. The lead plaintiffs, Sean O’Brien and Randall Moore, claim the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and Kentucky Wage and Hour Laws.
According to court documents, the lawsuit alleges that BlueOval SK fails to pay hourly employees overtime for mandatory pre-shift work and only compensates workers for their scheduled shifts rather than the actual time they spend on necessary work activities.
Time-Consuming Pre-Shift Requirements
The complaint details several time-consuming tasks that employees must complete before their shifts officially begin. Workers reportedly need to:
- Put on personal protective equipment and sanitary footwear
- Walk up to 15 minutes to reach their workstations due to the facility’s massive size
- Perform pre-shift machine preparation and setup work
The lawsuit further alleges that BlueOval SK alters and rounds workers’ clock-in and clock-out times, potentially shortchanging employees of earned wages.
Broader Workplace Concerns
This wage dispute comes amid broader concerns about working conditions at the Glendale, Kentucky facility. Workers have reportedly raised complaints for over a year about various issues including bat infestations, mold problems, fires, exposure to dangerous chemicals, and inadequate personal protective equipment.
The plant also faces controversy surrounding a recent United Auto Workers union vote, where workers tentatively voted to join the UAW by a narrow 526-515 margin. The outcome remains uncertain as 41 challenge ballots await resolution, with disputes over voter eligibility.
This report builds on initial coverage of the wage theft allegations that first detailed the workers’ claims against the battery manufacturer.
O’Brien and Moore, who recently left the company, are seeking a jury trial through their class-action complaint. The BlueOval SK plant officially began commercial production in August, marking a significant milestone for the electric vehicle battery manufacturing joint venture.
