Former City Councilman Fleeced Texans After Hurrican Ike, Now Paying $105,000 In Back Wages

[Omaha Steve]

http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2011/07/19/former-city-councilman-fleeced-texans-after-hurrican-ike-now-pays-105000-in-back-wages/



The United States Department of Labor has recovered $105,000 in back wages for 57 workers in Anahuac, TX who had been denied overtime compensation. The discovery of violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) followed an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division. The workers were employed by Cecil Parker Jr., the owner of a debris cleanup company in Anahuac.

Here’s where the story gets a little fishy. Cecil Parker, Jr. is also a former Mt. Belvieu city councilman who was in no way involved in the debris cleanup business until Hurricane Ike. Parker previously had no standing contract with FEMA. However, after Hurricane Ike, when help was needed most, Parker and his friend, Chambers County Judge Jimmy Sylvia, used the tragedy to fleece FEMA and make themselves $22 million.

There is no transparency in the case because there is no record of any votes or meetings leading up to the contracts being issued. While the two good old boys giggled and counted their loot, hard workers worked 10 hour days trying to help their neighbors by clearing the path of destruction that had been left by Hurricane Ike.

Now it has come to light that Parker misclassified workers as independent contractors which allowed him to pay them “straight time” wages and not the time and one-half for hours worked over 40 in a week, as required under the FLSA. Parker has since corrected the pay problem and paid the $105,000 in back wages but seems to show no remorse for his illicit behavior. While people were surveying their former houses and seeing if anything was left to salvage, Parker sought profit. And he’s not ashamed:

FULL story and video at link.

[Omaha Steve]

1. Kick

[malaise]

2. Shameless scumbags

K & R

[shanti]

3. "misclassified"

is that similar to "misspoke"? so many grifters....

[Omaha Steve]

4. Kicked to the day crowd

[hobbit709]

5. Sounds like these two need to to a little hard labor time for no wages.