Reuters (10/22/12)

A proposed class action lawsuit against Wal-Mart and two staffing firms, Labor Ready Midwest Inc. and QPS Employment Group Inc., alleges violations of minimum wage and overtime laws. Hundreds of temporary workers in the Chicago area say they were required to arrive early, stay late, and work through lunch and were not compensated for a minimum of four hours on days they were contracted for work but not used for the four-hour minimum. The plaintiffs also accuse Labor Ready and QPS of not providing them with the proper wage payment and notices as required by the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. The lawsuit comes as Wal-Mart contends with a planned walkout by workers in several cities on Black Friday.