Wal-Mart

A class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of thousands of Californian employees alleging the retail chain systematically denied meal breaks and rest breaks. A 2001 California state law requires employers to give 30 minute unpaid breaks to those working shifts over six hours or pay an hour's salary in compensation. The class includes 116,000 current and former employees. Wal-Mart claimed employees voluntarily waived their lunch breaks, but these waivers were obtained illegally; workers signed them to avoid being fired. A jury has ordered Wal-Mart to pay the class a $172 million class action settlement. (Dec-23-06) [ABC NEWS]