Contract workers claim they are not being paid for Blue Oval City construction

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Contract workers from Blue Oval City say they are not getting paid, but they are expected to work. We are learning that some are missing more than $6,000 worth of pay.

We have gotten several emails from contract workers with the state group saying the company is not paying workers. We spoke to these workers Friday, and they say the company they work for owes them big time.

Tanner Rains said he’s been working on the project with the company called “The State Group” since January of 2024. Rains said at the start, the group was only missing about an hour or two from workers checks.

“Recently it’s gotten worse and worse, and I am not sure who started it but it’s been a common idea that hey we should do something about this,” said Rains.

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These are pictures from Friday as workers waited and demanded to be paid for their work.

“I wouldn’t say everyone’s been paid but a lot of people did get the money they were asking for,” said Rains.

“You got folks missing thousands and thousands of dollars,” said one State Group Worker.

In an email, the state group told Action News 5 that they are aware of the issue and are working through some isolated payroll errors. The company says these instances are not widespread and they resolve the payroll issue within 24 to 48 hours. One person who worked for the company and did not want to be identified said that’s not true.

“I guess the paperwork must be disappearing or something because the next day they want you to fill out another one and then another one and finally you won’t get a check until whenever they feel like they want to cut it or whenever they feel like they can get it right. I am sick of the checks not being right and every week we have to go through the same thing.

Rains said he is confident things will get worked out.

“I know a lot of people are still waiting on a check, but I do think it’s going to get fixed,” said Rains.

Other workers said their lives depend on getting paid NOW.

“It’s not only affecting our families but our bills, our credit scores, and everything else. This matter needs to be dealt with immediately,” said one State Group Worker.

Here is the complete statement from The State Group:

“We are aware of and working through some isolated payroll errors; however, these instances are not widespread and have not caused wage delays for the majority of our employees. Our onsite team has established a process for payroll corrections, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed and typically resolved within 24-48 hours. We are proud of the opportunities we are able to offer our employees to be on the cutting edge of the next generation of American manufacturing.”

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