Illinois-based bus services contractor repays $292K in wages to 462 workers across upstate NY

New York officials say an Illinois-based school bus company has returned nearly $292,000 in wages to 462 employees across the upstate region who were underpaid.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that state Labor Department investigators determined Warrenville, Illinois-based Durham School Services underpaid the workers the minimum wage they were owned.

The investigation started when officials with Service Employees International Union Local 200 notified the agency of possible violations at the Durham location in Syracuse.

The probe determined the company underpaid 462 workers at the company's operations from Rochester to the Hudson Valley.

The company said the underpayment was a mistake caused by missing a change in New York state's minimum wage rate when rose on Dec. 31, 2013, from $7.25 to $8.

Durham's website says it provides bus services to school districts in 32 states.