PROVIDENCE, RI — The city of Providence, Rhode Island recently agreed to a $5.9 million settlement to resolve claims with hundreds of municipal firefighters over allegations that the city failed to properly compensate the crews for a tumultuous period of department restructuring and disagreements over collective bargaining agreements. According to local news reports, the city’s own auditor determined the lawsuits against the city could have resulted in even greater damages had they proceeded to trial and may have ended in verdicts greater than $10 million.
The lawsuits, filed in Rhode Island Superior Court and the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, the city failed to properly calculate overtime pay for its firefighters over a period of several years and withheld other overtime wages during disagreements over when those wages would kick in. Under federal labor law, unions and employers can engage in collective bargaining agreements to negotiate higher overtime thresholds and other pay structures.
In this case, the mayor of Providence attempted to increase the overtime threshold from 42 hours per week to 56 hours per week, a move which was so unpopular that it prompted almost 100 members of the department to retire. While the disagreement over when overtime pay rates would kick in was eventually resolved, the union representing the firefighters pressed forward to recover overtime wages.
Despite city attorneys acknowledging the likelihood of the firefighters prevailing in their federal unpaid overtime lawsuit brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the city continued to deny and delay the plaintiffs all their due wages. Fortunately for the firefighters, the city finally negotiated in good faith with the first responders and put forth a proposed settlement to which both sides could agree.
The settlements will still need approval from the firefighters union representing the plaintiffs, as well as the judges hearing the case. Settlement payments will take place in two installments over the next two years. The city of Providence is embroiled in a similar dispute with its police force, which shows no signs of settling in the near future.
Firefighter Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
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Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.