The People's Voice, "Talk Of The Town"  

C.A. Clark-Frieson, TPV Staff Writer

Roanoke, Alabama, Tuesday, December 10, 2007

In The Holiday Spirit, Cintas Volunteers To Pay Former Terry Employees’ Unpaid Wages

Right in the midst of the Christmas holiday hustle, when a little extra cash couldn’t be more welcome, Cintas Uniform Company has come to the rescue with a voluntary pay-off to hundreds of employees who formerly worked at Roanoke’s Terry Manufacturing Company.    

The news of Cintas’ decision will signal a happier ending for many of Terry’s former

employees, whose employment halted abruptly in the midst of the company’s trials.

The People’s Voice learned of the decision on Monday afternoon, during an interview with Attorney S. Sanford Holiday of Roanoke, who worked along with Attorney Lisa J. Sharp, of Balch & Bingham, LLP of Birmingham, and two Cintas Executives, Wade Gates, and Sara Sheldon.

Along with the 2003 bankruptcy filing of Terry Manufacturing, hundreds of employees were left hanging in the balance, with unpaid wages, while company executives pleaded guilty to massive fraud and other federal crimes.  Today, four years later, Terry’s former employees still have not been paid their back wages despite the fact that the trustee appointed by the court to handle the bankruptcy sits atop $2.7 million in cash.

Not wanting Terry’s ex-employees to go through yet another holiday season without being fairly paid their back wages, Cintas – which also lost millions when Terry Manufacturing closed its doors – has volunteered to pay the back wages itself, and will seek reimbursement from the trustee at a later time.

“It’s a shame that these workers still haven’t been paid for their hard work,” said Cintas attorney Lisa Sharp. “The demise of Terry Manufacturing continues to be felt by many, many people.”

Cintas voluntarily established a trust fund to pay the back wages of former Terry Manufacturing employees who have filed proofs of claim with the bankruptcy court, and is inviting any former Terry employee to bring a copy of their proof of claim form to Roanoke Municipal. Courtroom, 30 West Point Street, in Roanoke between 10:00am and 8:00pm this Wednesday through Saturday, December 12-15, for immediate and full reimbursement.  Former Terry Employees seeking the immediate payments will assign their claim to Cintas, which will then seek reimbursement from the funds held by the Terry bankruptcy trustee at a later time.

“Having been victimized ourselves, we hate to see these workers continue to be victimized by Terry’s demise,” Sharp said.

Cintas has long maintained that it, Terry’s individual employees and many others were all victims of the collapse of Terry Manufacturing.  Terry executives pleaded guilty and are serving prison sentences for fraud and other federal crimes.  Cintas had a brief joint venture with Terry Manufacturing that ended in may of 2002; Terry Manufacturing filed for bankruptcy in July, 2003, after growing scrutiny by its bank lenders.

Former Terry Manufacturing employees with questions about the reimbursement process should consult with their own legal counsel.

Link To Story:  http://www.peoplesvoiceweekly.com/Cintas.aspx