March 27, 2026
Participants in the Salvation Army’s rehabilitation programs who worked at the organization’s thrift stores with no pay showed that there is a common question over whether they are employees under state laws, an Illinois federal judge said, signing off on three classes.
In an order Thursday, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah granted a group of workers class certification in their suit seeking unpaid wages from the Salvation Army, saying that common questions prevail over individual ones.
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In the Thursday order, Judge Shah also granted final certification of a collective under the FLSA. Â
Harini Srinivasan of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, who is representing the workers, said in a statement that she was pleased with the decision, adding that “being denied minimum wage for required, full-time labor undermines the dignity and autonomy of people seeking stability and support.”
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The workers are represented by Christine E. Webber, Joseph M. Sellers, Rebecca Ojserkis, Michael Hancock and Harini Srinivasan of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld and Michael Freedman of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP and Jessica Riggin of Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP.
Read Class Cert. Granted In Salvation Army Thrift Store Wage Suit.