Harlem Papa John's workers to split $2.1M awarded after franchisee underpaid them: Schneiderman

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Workers at five Papa John’s pizza shops in Harlem are about to get some extra dough for the pies they delivered.

A state judge has ordered the shops’ franchisee - New Majority Holdings - to fork over $2.1 million for underpaying delivery workers, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday.

The order stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Schneiderman’s office claiming New Majority and its owner Ronald Johnson routinely cheated workers by paying illegally low wages with no overtime and did not reimburse employees for their expenses.

"Wage theft is not just a serious problem in fast food, it's a crime wave. Fast food workers are already some of America's lowest paid,” Schneiderman said. “Today's judgment sends a powerful message to dishonest businesses: worse employers, bigger penalties."

Under the judge’s order, the money will be distributed by Schneiderman’s office to 447 underpaid delivery workers at the five stores.

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