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Workers File Lawsuits Charging InterParking with Wage and Hour Violations

17 November 1999

Workers File Multiple Lawsuits Charging InterParking with Wage and Hour Violations; Belgian Union Sends Delegation to Support Washington, D.C. Parking Workers

    WASHINGTON--Nov. 16, 1999--Parking workers in Washington, D.C. filed three lawsuits today in federal district court charging InterParking (affiliate of Security Capital Group, NYSE:SCZ) with Fair Labor Standards Act violations, including not pay workers for hours worked.
    The company is also accused of not paying overtime and unfairly docking workers pay. Local 27, Parking and Service Workers Union will hold a massive demonstration today at one of InterParking's largest garage locations in Washington, DC to protest the company's alleged illegal practices. They will be joined by a delegation of parking workers from Interparking Europe.
    "It's an outrage that this multibillion dollar corporation is not even paying its workers for all the hours they have worked," said Roxie Herbekian, President of Local 27. "Parking rates are sky high in Washington, D.C., the garages are full, and InterParking is making money hand over fist."
    InterParking is owned by Security Capital Group , a $20 billion multinational real estate company. The company also owns CarrPark, Atlantic Garage, and Atlantic Valet; it is Washington's 4th largest parking operator.
    Interparking's workers at the Brussels Airport in Belgium are unionized and are actively supporting the InterParking workers in Washington, DC. To show their commitment to this cause, they have sent a delegation to support InterParking's workers in Washington, DC and are meeting with Interparking management in Brussels.
    "I would not have believed the poor working conditions if I had not seen them with my own eyes," said Jacques Jansenns, delegate from the Belgian union SETCa/BBTK who works at the Brussels International Airport. "We are committed to supporting the cause of parking workers in Washington, D.C. until they have the same rights and conditions as we have in Belgium."
    InterParking workers in Washington are unionizing with Local 27 to improve wages, benefits, and working conditions. Local 27 has successfully organized 45% of the Washington, DC metropolitan area's parking industry through a process of "right to organize agreements." Local 27 is affiliated with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, AFL-CIO (HERE).
    The union has requested to meet with InterParking management to resolve the labor dispute. To date management has refused to meet. The union expects the number of wage and hour lawsuits to steadily increase over the next few weeks.