Ex-Wahlburgers employees sue, claiming denied wages and tips
By Associated Press
Aug 19, 2016 8:29 AM CDT
FILE - In this June 23, 2015, file photo, Donnie Wahlberg, from left, Paul Wahlberg and Mark Wahlberg attend the Wahlburgers Coney Island preview party in New York. Five former employees at the Coney Island location filed a federal class action lawsuit against Wahlburgers and the owners of the franchise...   (Associated Press)

NEW YORK (AP) — Five former employees of the burger chain founded by celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg are suing the company over what they call "rampant" violations of labor laws.

The ex-employees who filed the class-action suit in New York federal court Thursday previously worked at a Wahlburgers location in Brooklyn. They claim Wahlburgers failed to pay them the proper minimum wage and regularly kept tips designated for servers.

The lawsuit claims employees at one time didn't receive a $3,000 tip left for them following a private party for the cast of "Blue Bloods," the CBS series starring Donnie Wahlberg.

The suit names Wahlburgers and the owners of its Brooklyn franchise. The Wahlbergs aren't named.

Wahlburgers said Friday that it's working with the franchise "to better understand the circumstances."