A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit claiming Tyson Foods owes thousands of Kansas workers overtime pay and other compensation can move forward as a class action, the Kansas City Star reported.

The ruling makes it possible for the workers to proceed collectively in pursuing millions of dollars in alleged back pay.

In question is whether Tyson owes the workers for time spent donning and doffing protective gear and walking to and from changing areas, among other things. The case was filed in 2006 by employees at Tyson's beef plants in Holcomb and Emporia.

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