ST. LOUIS – A satellite television installer recently filed a federal class action lawsuit accusing his employer of not paying overtime wages to him and other installers.
Stephen Jones filed the complaint July 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Synergies3 Tec Services alleging the company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and Missouri's minimum wage laws.
In the suit, Jones claims the Texas-based company erroneously classified him as an independent contractor, making him ineligible for overtime.
The employee filed the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
According to the complaint, Synergies3 Tec policies show he was not an independent contractor. For example, he was required to wear uniforms and follow company schedules, the complaint states. In addition, Jones claims many technicians could not earn supplementary income from other sources.
The suit seeks class certification for other installers who worked in Missouri, Nebraska and Illinois. The other installers would have to opt-out to not be a part of the suit, which seeks a jury trial.
Jones, who has worked for the company since June 2016, seeks to recover unpaid overtime wages.
His suit named Bentom Odom and Eric Atchley as defendants for allegedly implementing the company's policies.
This is not the only employee lawsuit brought against the company. Tyrone Glover sued Synergies3 Tec Services in May, alleging overtime violations as well.
Jones is represented by Mark Potashnick of the law firm Weinhaus and Potashnick in St. Louis.