April 12, 2024
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Area Standards, Political Action
A strong union needs skills, benefits and ACTION!
The U.S. Department of Labor has successfully secured $518,446 in back wages for 54 workers after uncovering prevailing wage and fringe benefits violations by a New Hampshire subcontractor on a federally funded project at the Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts. Ecostructive Pro Builders, a construction company specializing in drywall installation, failed to pay workers appropriately.
The prime contractor for the Natick project, CTA Construction Manager LLC of Waltham, has paid the back wages as specified in the administrative settlement.
A recent report from The Century Foundation (TCF) sheds light on the widespread exploitation of construction workers in Massachusetts. According to the report, an alarming 13.9 percent of the construction workforce, approximately 43,000 workers, are being taken advantage of by their employers. This exploitation not only harms workers but also imposes a substantial burden on taxpayers, costing the Massachusetts economy an estimated $235 million.
In response to deteriorating conditions on nonunion sites, members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (NASRCC) are taking action against wage theft and tax fraud in the construction industry. Over the next week, NASRCC will hold a series of events aimed at raising awareness and combating these unethical practices as the April 15 federal tax filing deadline occurs.
Joe Byrne, NASRCC executive secretary-treasurer, emphasized the importance of addressing wage theft and tax fraud, stating, “Every worker should be afforded the dignity, benefits, and protections they rightfully deserve.” He further urged the state legislature to pass the wage theft bill, which would serve as “a crucial step in curbing abuse across the Commonwealth.”
Regional councils of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America across the country are holding similar events, collectively working to elevate the conversation surrounding construction industry tax fraud and its detrimental impact on American taxpayers and communities.
To learn more about the 2024 United Brotherhood of Carpenters Tax Fraud Days of Action and join the fight against these injustices, please visit https://stoptaxfraud.net/.