SEATAC, Wash. — Thirteen employees of an airport parking service filed complaints with the city of SeaTac, because they are not being paid $15 an hour as required by law.
After the complaints were filed againstExtra Car Airport Parking last month, one of the complainants was fired.
Wayne H. Armstrong said his boss, Michael Vergillo, cited two incidents when Armstrong dented or scratched a car and one incident when Armstrong lost a key.
Armstrong said the minor damage to cars happened months ago. He feels his firing had to do with his old age and the fact that he filed a complaint.
Proposition 1 passed narrowly in November, and some businesses in the hospitality and transportation industries had to comply with the new ordinance by Jan. 1.
But Armstrong and other employees saw their wages go up by only 32 cents, to $10.32 per hour, on their paychecks.
“I was disappointed. I thought maybe he’d given in, but then it was apparent he wasn’t going to. And he told us he wasn’t going to,” Armstrong said.
Based on one pay stub Armstrong submitted to the city as evidence, his hours indicate he could be owed around $700 if Extra Car must comply with the ordinance.
“He’s not following the rules, and he’s just getting away with it,” Armstrong said.
Airport parking lots with more than 100 spaces and more than 25 employees must comply with the ordinance.
The SeaTac city manager, Todd Cutts, said he sent a letter to Vergillo encouraging him to review the ordinance.
“We don’t have an investigation that’s pending, as far as those claim forms are concerned, but in the future, we may in fact do some investigation,” Cutts said.
The business is not required to reply. But Vergillo told KIRO 7 he has retained a lawyer. Cutts has been told to expect a response soon.
Vergillo would not comment on the story.
Cutts said the city will evaluate whether to investigate claims on a case-by-case basis. The ordinance gives the city the authority to audit a business’s payroll but does not outline what should happen if an employer is found in violation.
“There’s some mention of attorney’s fees for those employees, but otherwise it’s just the assumption that those wages need to be paid,” Cutts said.
KIRO
