Employees of Lincoln, Neb.-based Premium Protein Products, who were furloughed for five months before the company filed for bankruptcy last week, have filed a class action lawsuit alleging the meatpacker violated the federal Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

The lawsuit was filed last Thursday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nebraska.

Three employees are named as plaintiffs, but the Journal Star quoted their attorney as saying he has 10 or 12 more former employees who have signed on to the suit. More than 500 former employees could qualify for the class in the suit, which seeks $3 million.

Starting in June, the company shut its doors, but called the furloughs temporary and renewed them every two weeks with a recorded message for nearly five months. On Nov. 10 the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.