| BOSTON Last week, Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office mailed additional payments from the Wendy's International Gift Fund to over 300 employees affected by the closing of 13 Wendy's restaurants in Western Massachusetts in July 2007. The latest payments, totaling $85,880.01, include amounts the employees should have received for the period from July 16 - 20. Employees will start receiving checks in the next several days. In late September, the Attorney General's Office issued checks to approximately 406 former employees of the 13 closed Wendy's Restaurants. The payments mailed to employees in September, totaling $191,673.89, were for work performed for the weeks ending June 26, July 1, July 8 and July 15. The Attorney General has now made payments totaling $277,553.90 to the affected employees. The $350,000 Gift Fund was established by Wendy's International with the agreement of the Attorney General to help alleviate the economic hardship of the employees of the closed Wendy's. In addition to establishing the gift fund, Wendy's International has announced that they will work to re-open some of the locations owned by Robert Burda, and are reaching out to former employees of the 13 restaurants who may be seeking employment. Individuals who are interested in employment opportunities with Wendy's International should contact Scott Kerrigan at Wendy's International, Inc. at (800) 826-3000 ext. 159. Employees who believe that they are owed wages and who have not yet contacted the Attorney General's Office are strongly urged to do so. Affected workers should call the Office's Fair Labor Hotline at 784-1240 ext.156 or (617) 727-3465. The Attorney General's Office continues to pursue its criminal case against Robert Burda and his company, Sondocatt Investments LLC, which owned the franchise rights for the involved Wendy's restaurants. On August 16, Burda and Sondocatt were indicted on various charges including non-payment of wages, larceny by check over $250, and larceny by check under $250. At his arraignment, Burda pled not guilty and bail was set at $10,000. He is due back in court on Nov. 27 for a pre-trial conference. |
