By Nathan Duke
Mike Siad and Ahmad Zahriyeh, two officers for Queens and Brooklyn-based Dynasty Meat Corp., agreed to pay a total of $127,292 to the employees in overtime following an investigation by the department's city-based Wage and Hour Division, said Philip Jacobson, district director for the department. The supermarket chain operates Dynasty VI Food Corp. in Ridgewood, Dynasty Meat Corp. of Sunnyside, 58-18 Meat Corp. and Z&T Food Corp. of Woodside and Dynasty VII Food Corp. of Brooklyn, all of which were defendants in the suit, Jacobson said.The Department of Labor investigation found that the company did not maintain proper records of employees' work hours and pay rates and that 96 employees were paid straight time for overtime hours, Jacobson said.The Fair Labor Standards Act requires that employers pay at least the applicable federal minimum wage and one half the regular rate of pay for more than 40 hours worked per week. The act also requires employers to keep accurate records of wages, hours and other conditions of employment.A Dec. 22 court order by U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan prohibits the defendants from taking retaliatory action against employees involved in the suit, Jacobson said. The company will pay the back wage payments, which cover a period between January 2003 and December 2005, in 10 installments, he said.If the supermarket chain fails to make any of the payments, a court-appointed receiver can seize and liquidate any of the defendants' assets to pay the back wages, Jacobson said. The defendants agreed to the court's consent judgment, but did not admit or deny any labor law violations, Jacobson said.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
