Former Magnetation employees file lawsuit regarding overtime pay
Four former Magnetation LLC employees are suing the iron ore mining company.
KBJR reports the former employees say Chief Executive Officer Larry Lehtinen and Chief Operating Officer Matt Lehtinen violated overtime laws.
The four people claim Magnetation didn't pay them the full overtime rates, according to the station.
The plaintiffs are fighting to be paid back for the overtime work they put in over the last three years, the Hibbing Daily Tribune says. They're fighting for the other employees to be paid as well.
Matt Lehtinen admitted that the company's overtime calculations have not been "consistent with federal and state overtime laws," a Minneapolis-based law firm told KBJR.
Company leaders tell the Daily Tribune they're working with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 to come up with an agreement. However, they say it will be difficult because of previous agreements with the union.
The company's website says it owns four iron ore plants. However, all but one have been idled, the Grand Rapids Herald-Review notes.
The paper says Magnetation's Grand Rapids location is the only one still in production.
In May, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But the Herald-Review reports Matt Lehtinen has said he expects the company to get out of bankruptcy sometime this year.