The U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a new class-action lawsuit against Manpower Co., alleging that the company improperly outsourced thousands of jobs at a Michigan plant.
In a statement released Thursday, the group said the lawsuit alleges that Manpower did not comply with its contractual obligations to ensure employees were not exploited.
The complaint, filed in U.K. bankruptcy court, accuses Manpower of mismanagement, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, and other violations.
The company said it is cooperating with the lawsuit and is committed to resolving the matter.
Manpower employs approximately 1,200 workers at its Huntington Beach plant, which it purchased in 2017.
It operates the facility from a temporary maintenance facility in the city of Huntington Beach, California.
In the suit, the chamber said the company also failed to adequately address concerns about health and safety at the plant, such as unsafe working conditions, inadequate training and other safety issues.
The suit was filed in the U.k. court of first instance, meaning it could be filed in any court where a case is pending.
A hearing is scheduled for Thursday in U,K.
court in Huntington Beach.
The U-K.
government is suing Manpower on behalf of its staff, including those who worked at the facility.
The chamber said its workers were not given proper training and had no access to medical facilities.
The lawsuit alleges the company retaliated against employees who spoke out about unsafe conditions at the factory, including by firing them and forcing them to take time off work.
