Combatting Wage Suppression in the Sheep Ranching Industry: Llacua et al. v. Western Range Association et al
Towards Justice attacks impediments to competitive labor markets that should allow workers, including the most marginalized and underpaid, to shop between employers for a better deal. We represent shepherds in a class action lawsuit alleging that ranchers across the Western United States colluded to depress shepherd wages, illegally deducted expenses from their meager paychecks, and misled state and federal governments in a pattern of racketeering activity. Our clients allege that ranches hired their shepherds through an association constituted by competing ranches. In doing so, they sharply limited competition for shepherds and effectively fixed wages at the minimum allowable by law.
Case Documents
Brief of Amicus Curiae Open Markets Institute
Press Releases
9/1/2015 Shepherds Allege that an Antitrust Conspiracy Has Kept Them Below the Poverty Line
Press
9/2/2015 Lawsuit: Western sheep operators colluded against workers
9/2/2015 Peruvian shepherds claim wage fixing in U.S. sheep industry: lawsuit
9/1/2015 Workers Say Sheep Ranchers, Ranching Groups Fixing Wages
Spanish Language Press
11/16/2015 Cautiverio En Las Rocallosas, Parte 1
11/9/2015 Pastores de ovejas en la miseria tras venir como trabajodres huéspedes