AG mails checks to ex-Wendy's workers

The office of Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said today that it has mailed payments totaling nearly $192,000 to 406 former employees of 13 Wendy's restaurants in Western Massachusetts.

The restaurants were abruptly closed July 20 by a Wendy's franchisee who was later indicted on charges that he failed to pay all wages, Coakley's office said.

Checks mailed by Coakley's office should reach former employees within the next several days, and they result from an agreement between Coakley's office and Wendy's International Inc. of Ohio; the agreement created a $350,000 fund to help alleviate the hardship of the employees who worked in stores that closed, Coakley's office said.

Employees who believe they are owed wages and who have not yet contacted Coakley's office are urged to call the office's Fair Labor Hotline at 413-784-1240, ext. 156, or 617-727-3465.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)