Is my boss required to pay me for manditory meetings?

I am a valet. My boss considers all of the people who work for him independent contractors. He has mandatory meetings each year and requires all valets to be there. If a valet does not attend he will be fired or punished. The meetings are usually in the morning like 8am and this is not normal work times. He refuses to pay us for the time at the meeting. I feel like that is illegal and he should compensate us for the time.