On February 22, 2023, the Court in this action granted preliminary approval of a proposed settlement as set forth in the Settlement Agreement (available here) concerning the lawsuit noted above (the “Lawsuit”). If you receivd a notice, it is because your employer’s records show that you are one of the people eligible to participate in the Settlement process.

What is this lawsuit about?

The people who brought the Lawsuit are known as “the Plaintiffs.” Plaintiffs brought this Lawsuit against Chevron U.S.A., Inc. and three of its contractors: Newtron LLC, Performance Mechanical, Inc. and Specialty Welding and Turnaround Services LLC. Plaintiffs allege that Chevron jointly employed its contractors’ employees and that its contractors failed to pay workers at Chevron’s California refineries for all hours worked, specifically for time spent on mandatory pre-shift transportation to their work sites and time spent putting on Nomex and other special protective clothing and gear before the start of each shift. For unpaid wages and other wage and hour violations, the Lawsuit covers the period from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023. For penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”), the Lawsuit covers the period from July 17, 2018 through February 22, 2023.

What is the Settlement, and Who is Included?

The Plaintiffs, Chevron and Newtron (collectively, “the Parties”) have agreed to settle the Lawsuit for a payment of $1,925,000.

The Settlement provides benefits to the Class Members and the PAGA Members. The Class Members (also referred to as the “Participating Class Members” and in the Settlement Agreement) are hourly workers provided by contractors at Chevron’s California refineries from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023. PAGA Members are workers provided by contractors at Chevron’s California refineries from July 17, 2018 through February 22, 2023.

Together, these individuals are referred to as the “Settlement Group.”

What Benefits are Available?

Each Settlement Group member will receive some money, depending on (a) the number of weeks worked at Chevron’s Richmond and/or El Segundo refineries from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023, (b) the number of weeks worked at Chevron’s Richmond and/or El Segundo refineries from July 17, 2018 through February 22, 2023, (c) the number of weeks worked for Newtron at Chevron’s Richmond and/or El Segundo refineries from September 20, 2015 through February 22, 2023 for settlement of class action, and from July 17, 2018 through February 22, 2023 for settlement of the PAGA action, and (d) whether the Class Member opts out of the Settlement.