New York sued UPS on Monday, accusing the delivery giant of underpaying thousands of seasonal holiday workers during the busiest time of the year.
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Attorney General Letitia James filed the lawsuit, claiming UPS did not pay workers for all the time they spent on the job. That includes time spent waiting to clock in, traveling between stops, watching required training videos, and time after shifts officially ended.
“UPS built its holiday business on the backs of workers who were not paid for their time and labor,” James said. “UPS’s seasonal employees work brutal hours in the cold to deliver the holiday packages families across the country count on.”
According to the complaint, the pay issues were not isolated mistakes. State investigators say the problems were widespread and affected workers at more than 50 UPS facilities across New York. The lawsuit focuses on seasonal driver helpers and support drivers hired to help handle the holiday surge.
The state alleges that workers were often required to work off the clock, were clocked in later than when they actually started, and were automatically docked for meal breaks they did not take.
The investigation began in 2023 after Teamsters Local 804 raised concerns about how seasonal workers were being paid. “Instead of compensating these workers fairly for their labor, UPS has played the Grinch,” James said.
UPS said it is aware of the lawsuit and is reviewing the claims. The company declined to comment further because the case is ongoing. In a statement, UPS said it offers competitive pay and benefits and is committed to following all applicable laws.
The lawsuit seeks back pay for workers who may have been underpaid, along with penalties and a court order requiring UPS to change how it tracks and pays hours going forward.
