UK-Based Recruitment Firm Allegedly Withholds Pay to Gulf Oil Spill Workers, Legal Battle Ensues

Just under two years ago, Faststream Recruitment, a UK-based maritime recruitment firm was hired by BP to provide contract workers for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. It was a huge windfall for Faststream, and in speaking with a former employee who helped structure the deal, upwards of 34 individuals were hired for this important project.

Recently, Justin Sellers, one of the contracted employees on this project, filed suit against Faststream in Texas court for failure to pay overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act, 29 U.S.C. § 201. Faststream had assigned Sellers (and many others) to work more than 80 hours per week on a regular basis, and these hours were reported to Faststream every two weeks, however the company failed to pay him overtime as required by federal law.

The court document details that Faststream’s revenues in the United States, over the past few years, have exceeded $10 million, and that they were well aware of their requirements under the FLSA.

Faststream has not yet responded to our inquiry into the matter.