Workers at Crushin’ It Apparel will finally receive back pay and interest after its owner refused to pay a settlement for over two years.
On Dec. 12, Worker Justice Wisconsin issued a press release to update the ongoing attempts to claim settlement for unpaid wages. The announcement comes two and a half years after a mass firing of Crushin’ It Apparel’s employees formed a union to address unsafe working conditions and untimely pay. Employees, their union and Worker Justice Wisconsin have continuously pressed to collect pay from Crushin’ It’s owner, Jeremy Kruk, since June 29, 2023 when the National Labor Review Board ruled in favor of workers.
“We are glad that the Crushin’ It workers will finally get their stolen wages back, and we thank the DWD and WI DOJ for their efforts to enforce existing wage laws,” said Worker Justice Wisconsin in a press release. “More importantly, we commend the Crushin’ It workers for standing up for their rights and bravely and repeatedly speaking out about their experiences.”
The issue started in the Summer of 2022 when a group of Crushin’ It workers came to Worker Justice Wisconsin due to wage theft and workplace safety problems — they were soon fired after. The workers soon filed wage theft cases with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and shortly after rehired.
Later that year in November, workers voted to unionize under the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades 7 Local 770 (IUPAT). Again, they were fired. Worker Justice Wisconsin and IUPAT filed over 20 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Review Board (NLRB).
On June 29, 2023, the NLRB ruled in favor of the workers. Kruk was ordered to cease and desist from impending protected organizing activities, fully reinstate the employees within 14 days of the ruling, pay them for any loss earning, benefits and any other financial harm incurred by the unlawful firing.
Kruk, rather than pay the settlement, dissolved Crushin’ It Apparel. The company was formed under a new name, Thunder Bay, with a new owner at the same location but still with Kruk employed there. The employees gathered on September 12, 2023 to demand justice for and for Kruk to finally pay the settlement. The employees, union and Worker Justice Wisconsin gathered to point out an alleged ruse from Kruk to get out of paying the settlement through the dissolution of Crushin’ It.
Kruk still did not pay the settlement as time continued well past the 14-day order in June 2023. In April 2024, the Wisconsin DOJ filed a lawsuit on behalf of the DWD against Kruk. A settlement was reached where Kruk would pay the workers back wages — $8,230.71 — plus interest.
On Dec. 10, the State of Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance approved the settlement. Kruk now has 20 days to pay the stolen wages with interest.
Kruk did not respond to requests to comment.
