UPS worker sues company for overtime pay

United Parcel Service (UPS) vehicles depart from a UPS facility in Los Angeles, California July 22, 2008.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A United Parcel Service Inc employee sued the package delivery company on Wednesday, seeking more than $100 million and accusing it of wrongly withholding overtime charges from account managers.

The lawsuit, filed in a San Diego federal court by lawyers for employee Laura Meza, says UPS violated the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying the workers overtime.

The lawsuit, which seeks class action status, contends that account managers typically work 60 hours a week and are not paid overtime rates for work in excess of 40 hours a week or eight hours a day.

It also says Atlanta-based UPS failed to keep accurate records of hours that employees worked and did not provide meal and rest breaks.

The lawsuit seeks damages of more than $100 million for unpaid overtime, including interest and statutory penalties.

Meza worked for UPS as an account manager for the last year-and-a-half. She is represented by the law firm of Sanford Wittels & Heisler LLP.

"Since 2009, Ms. Meza has been on medical leave due, in part, to the stress of the long hours of work at UPS," the lawsuit says.

Meza returned to work in recent weeks, a spokeswoman for the law firm said.

UPS has not received the lawsuit, spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg said.

"There is a defined sales compensation structure and we believe these employees are classified as exempt and not subject to overtime," Rosenberg said.

"UPS has an outstanding record of providing a positive and fair working environment and compensation, and we're committed to continuing to reward employees fairly," she added.

UPS shares closed up 19 cents to $52.78 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The case is Laura Meza v. United Parcel Service Inc, No. 09CV1798.

(Reporting by Karen Jacobs. Editing by Robert MacMillan)