Moon McDonald's Violated Child Labor Laws: Feds

SantonastassoPITTSBURGH, PA — Bridgeville-based Santonastasso Enterprises has been fined nearly $60,000 for child labor violations at 13 Pittsburgh-area McDonald's franchises the company operates. The violations involved 101 minor-aged workers.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wages and Hour Division determined the company permitted 14-and-15-year-old employees to work outside permissible hours. These violations included allowing them to work as follows:

• More than 3 hours per day and after 7 p.m. on school days when the law forbids work beyond that time.
• Later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day, when they may legally work until 9 p.m.
• More than 8 hours on a non-school day, and more than 18 hours a week during a regular school week.

Santonastassov violated the Fair Labor Standards Act with those actions, Labor Department officials said.

“Permitting young workers to work excessive hours can jeopardize their safety, well-being and education,” Pittsburgh Wage and Hour District Director John DuMont said. “Employers who hire
young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face cosstly consequences.”

Santonastasso Enterprises – owned by John and Kathleen Santonastasso – paid a civil penalty of $57,332 assessed by the division for the violations.

The division’s investigation included the following locations and number of workers affected:

• Bridgeville, 3023 Washington Pike: 11

• Castle Shannon, 225 Mt. Lebanon Blvd: 9

• Coraopolis, 1010 4th Avenue: 7

• Green Tree, 1 Polar Street: 10

• Moon Township, 2805 Gracy Center Way: 5

• Star Junction, 3085 Pittsburgh Road: 4

• McKees Roacks, 600 Pine Hollow Road: 5

• Pittsburgh, 100 David Blvd: 6

• Pittsburgh, 3708 Forbes Ave.: 11

• Pittsburgh, 500 Liberty Ave.: 3

• Pittsburgh, 6361 Penn Avenue: 18

• Waynesburg, 273 East Roy Furman Highway: 3

• Waynesburg, 5 Sugaar Run: 9