U.S. Department of Labor recovers $67,000 in unpaid wages at Akron manufacturer

AKRON—Federal wage investigators recovered $67,294 in unpaid wages for 29 workers of tire equipment maker McNeil & NRM Inc.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found the Akron-based company failed to compensate workers for two and a half months this year, allowing its employees to work without this pay.

"The Fair Labor Standards Act mandates that wages are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered," the department said in an Aug. 31 press release.

"Workers cannot be expected to bear the burden of the employer's financial issues, which, in this case, left them wondering if or when they would be paid," said Matthew Utley, Wage and Hour Division district director. "Workers have a right to be paid on their regularly scheduled pay day so that they can meet their financial obligations and care for themselves and their families."

There were about 510,000 job openings among durable goods manufacturers in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 166,000 workers quit their jobs in this sector.

"In the current climate, employers face significant competition to fill their positions as workers have more choices about their employment," the U.S. Department of Labor stated.

"Employers who fail to respect workers' rights are likely to find it more difficult to retain and recruit the people they need to operate their businesses," Utley said. "Employers who treat workers with dignity and who comply with federal protections for workers will have a competitive advantage."

McNeil & NRM's Akron facility designs tire production equipment for automobile and truck tires that the company manufactures at its plant in Bucharest, Romania.

The company could not be reached for comment.

Utley said any worker who is not receiving their pay should contact the Wage and Hour Division immediately by filing an online complaint on the department's website, or contacting the division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).