Settlement follows strikes by Chinese and Latino workers forced to work in warehouses without pay
For Immediate Release, 2025/01/30, Los Angeles, CA––Dozens of workers who received local media attention after fighting back against their employer’s suspected labor trafficking practices have been vindicated, after a court approved a consent judgment with the U.S. Department of Labor requiring California-based Egreen Transportation Corporation to pay over $580,000 in unpaid wages, damages, and other penalties.
The workers, all Chinese and Latino immigrants, were recruited to work at Egreen and denied pay for their work in California, Georgia, and New Jersey warehouses. Egreen coerced many of the Chinese workers into working 12-hour days, denied them payment, and housed them in overcrowded apartments—for which the Chinese workers were charged hundreds of dollars in rent. In response to workers’ repeated complaints, Egreen threatened retaliation and firing to silence them.
“This case is especially important under these current times where there has been an ongoing issue of fraudulent employment promises made to new, often desperate, asylum-seeking migrants. This case highlights those unscrupulous businesses and sends a clear message that they cannot prey on and exploit migrants with their illegal practices,” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO, AJSOCAL.
“Everyone deserves the right to protect themselves against companies that violate U.S. laws, without the fear of threats and intimidation,” said Mr. Qian, a former Egreen employee who asked to go by a pseudonym given the current environment of fear for immigrants.
Chinese and Latino workers held a series of strikes to demand unpaid wages. Egreen again threatened, intimidated, and ultimately fired the striking Chinese workers.
After months of investigation, the Department of Labor entered into a landmark consent judgment with Egreen and its senior employees. In addition to paying the workers $580,000 plus interest, Egreen is also required to provide notice to its employees of their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act and implement employment law training.
“Wage theft is unacceptable and illegal,” said Elizabeth Koo, Senior Counsel at Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). “Employers who exploit their workers will be held accountable. We commend these brave workers for coming forward and applaud the Department of Labor for standing up against such severe workplace abuses.”
The settlement is the first in a series of expected accountability measures Egreen is expected to face, as complaints of illegal practices remain pending before other regulatory agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The workers pursued complaints to federal agencies with the support of AALDEF, in partnership with Sur Legal Collaborative, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Southern California (AJSOCAL), and the former Immigrant Justice Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“This outcome is the result of these brave workers coming forward to file a complaint with the Wage and Hour Division at the US Department of Labor in the face of abusive treatment and retaliation from their employers,” said Shelly Anand, Co-Founder and Executive Director at Sur Legal Collaborative. “Employers like Egreen need to be held to account for flagrantly violating our nation’s labor and employment laws and thinking they can evade responsibility by outsourcing to labor contractors and taking advantage of a vulnerable immigrant workforce.”
Migrant Equity Southeast (MESE), a community-based immigrant rights organization in Savannah, and Tapestri, a non-profit organization in Georgia, supported the workers with immediate crisis needs and connected them to legal organizations.
“This victory is a testament to the courage of the workers and the power of collective action,” said Daniela Rodriguez, Executive Director at MESE. “At MESE, we are overjoyed to see justice served and to know these individuals will receive the relief they deserve. This outcome inspires hope and empowers others to stand up for their rights, reinforcing our commitment to a more equitable future.”
“I understand why many workers choose to remain silent out of fear of losing their jobs or facing retaliation,” said Mr. Sun, another former Egreen employee who also asked to go by a pseudonym. “But I believe that fairness and justice can be fought for and upheld. Everyone deserves to work in an environment of equality and respect. This victory belongs to those who stand for justice.”
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Liza Ameen, lameen@ajsocal.org, 213.241.0258