More Than 1,000 Workers May Join Electrolux Lawsuit

Up to 1,500 former employees of a now-shuttered washer and dryer plant in Webster City, Iowa, are expected to join a class-action lawsuit seeking back pay for time spent putting on protective equipment before their shifts.

U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett on Friday ordered appliance-maker AB Electrolux to produce names and addresses of hourly production workers at the plant between December 2008 and December 2011 so they can be notified of their ability to join the case. Lawyers say that about 1,000 of them have already expressed an interest.

Workers say the company required employees to arrive 15 minutes before their shifts to put on equipment such as armguards and gloves without pay. The company is fighting the case.

The plant closed last March after its work was moved to Mexico.