IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH FOR TETREAU-KALIFA AND HUBBY

By Juan Montoya
A federal jury has found that three former employees of the Carwash Plus, 725 Paredes Line Road, in Brownsville, had exercised unfair labor practices in the treatment of its workers.
Jonathan Flores, Mark Kasick and Luis Villarreal sued the company owned by Arturo Kalifa, co-owner George Tetreau, and manager Rey Garcia and claimed that they and other workers at the car wash facility were not properly compensated during employment at the business.
Kalifa is the husband of District 2 City Commissioner Jessica Tetreau.

The employees said in the suit that although they were expected to be at the facility for at least nine hours a day, they could only punch in the clock when they actually were washing cars.They said they were paid only for the hours spent actively washing cars.
The workers were represented by attorneys with Texas Legal Aid. The TRLA alleged that the Carwash Plus practices violated the Fair Labor Standards Act on minimum wage, overtime, as well as the Texas Minimum Wage Act.
Katy Youker, who represented the employees, said the workers will receive their owed wages and additional damages. Youker said the case could set a precedent in the state.
“We think this case sets an important precedent,” she told the Brownsville Herald. She said the underpaying of workers there caused problems for other businesses creating an unfair advantage which competitors must deal with.
“It’s bad for business,” she said.
 Kalifa had no comment on the case.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen will determine the amount of damages to be awarded the workers during the next few weeks.