chicago u.s. congresswoman urge labor department monday investigate chipotle mexican grill possible wage theft another potential hurdle burrito chain seek rebound food-safety problems last year u.s. representative rosa delauro democrat connecticut say department probe allegations 10,000 current former chipotle employees join federal lawsuit allege company properly pay hours work action true would contradict federal law delauro say letter department deprive workers wag earn legally entitle chipotle say call investigation misdirect maintain outset case without merit vigorously defend employment practice company spokesman chris arnold say labor department immediate comment chipotle work revive sales growth outbreaks e. coli norovirus salmonella link restaurants sicken 500 people last year drive away customers last week activist investor william ackman disclose hedge fund purchase 9.9 percent stake company say undervalue case unpaid wag begin two years ago leah turner work manager chipotle restaurant colorado allege lawsuit company routinely require hourly pay employees work clock accord court record company use timekeeping devices automatically punch employees clock even still work lawsuit say since 10,000 others across country join lawsuit seek recover unpaid wag say andrew quisenberry attorney represent workers law firm bachus schanker large number plaintiffs significant us show widespread across chipotle quisenberry say case tuner et al vs chipotle mexican grill u.s. district court district colorado 14-cv-02612 u.s. congresswoman urge labor department probe chipotle wage theft allegations