Overhill Farms Worker Class Avoids Arbitration in California

A collective bargaining agreement covering the employment of a proposed class of Overhill Farms Inc. workers lacked enough specificity to force arbitration of their wage and hour claims, a California appellate court said.

The proposed class sued Overhill in 2019 alleging meal and rest break violations, and minimum wage and overtime violations, among others. The suit asserted a claim under the California Unfair Competition Law, and sought civil penalties on behalf of the state under the Private Attorneys General Act.

Overhill sought to compel arbitration based on a collective bargaining agreement between the company and United Food and Commercial Workers, ...