PORTLAND -- About 600 Umatilla Chemical Depot workers are getting more than $4.2 million in back pay after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

The agency's Portland District Office determined that 603 employees of EG&G Technical Services in Hermiston involved in various operations at the depot were underpaid.

Investigators said some workers were not relieved for their lunch time, resulting in inappropriate pay deductions for lunch breaks that could not be taken.

The pay deficiencies are a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other federal labor laws. Civil penalties have been assessed.