Nov 30
By Karen Bobela and Joe Doolin
Bobby Johnson and Danny Steed, former members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, attended homeschool through the seventh grade, then started working in the construction industry. While other children their age were focused on passing math exams, Bobby and Danny were working full-time jobs in construction, operating equipment to prep and pour concrete on large-scale projects.
For nearly two years, starting when he was 13, Bobby worked for Phaze Concrete Inc. in Arizona, Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming. When Danny was 14, he worked for the company in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska for approximately nine months.
Working between 12 and 14 hours per day, six days per week and earning roughly $200 every two weeks, Bobby and Danny were paid an effective rate of $1.19 per hour – not even close to the required federal minimum wage of $7.25.
During their employment with Phaze, Bobby and Danny were required to operate forklifts and use various types of saws to cut rebar and concrete.