RALEIGH, N.C., March 8 (UPI) -- Three former Blackwater trainers allege in a lawsuit they were denied overtime pay by the North Carolina company.
The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot said Monday Benjamin Williams, David Bogo and Brian D. Maher also allege in a federal lawsuit filed in Raleigh, N.C., Blackwater unfairly labeled them as independent contractors.
The three plaintiffs want dozens of other former Blackwater trainers hired as independent contractors to be added to the suit, which was filed in December.
The trainers involved in the litigation would have been employed either at Blackwater's facility in Moyock, N.C., or a Navy annex in Chesapeake, Va.
Blackwater, now known as Xe Services LLC, has denied the allegations and wants the lawsuit, which is seeking unspecified back overtime wages, to be dismissed.
The Virginian-Pilot said the private military company does not label its workers as employees, thereby saving millions of dollars in taxes.
