Offshore Oil Rigs Governed by Federal Wage Law, Justices Say (1)

Federal wage and hour law applies to offshore oil rig workers, rather than state laws that govern similar issues such as minimum wage, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 10.

The decision is a win for companies that operate oil rigs off the coast of California. They include Exxon Mobil Corp., Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas, and Venoco, according to the California State Land Commission. Business groups feared that if the justices ruled in favor of California’s more rigid law, other states that are near oil rigs along the Gulf Coast—where the majority of activity in the industry resides—could pass ...