Casey’s General Stores Inc. faces another lawsuit, this time from cooks and cashiers who claim the company violated federal and state laws by working hourly cooks and cashiers off-the-clock to avoid paying overtime wages, the Associated Press reported.

A similar lawsuit was filed in May 30, 2007, by two assistant managers who claimed that the company relied on assistant managers to keep the stores running after their shifts, but failed to pay overtime.

This new lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court, alleges that about 20,000 employees are included in the class and claims exceed $5 million. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and unpaid back wages, liquidated damages allowed under federal labor statutes, certification of class action and equitable relief as permitted under individual state laws.

“I was expected to and repeatedly did show up early and stay late for Casey’s,” said Connie Wineland, a former Iowa Casey’s employee and plaintiff in a statement released today by the plaintiffs’ attorneys. “I want to be paid for all of the time I worked at Casey’s.”

In addition to having to clean, count cash and sell items to customers before and after shifts, the employees claim they were denied mandatory meal and rest breaks.

Hudson, Mallaney & Shindler of Des Moines, Peters Law Firm of Council Bluffs, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca of Washington, and Stephan Zouras of Chicago are representing the employees.

Casey’s attorney, Eli Wirtz, declined to comment on the matter.