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Published: Apr. 15, By Kevin Quinn via WBNG News 12

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — Carpenters from across the Southern Tier gathered outside the State Office Building in downtown Binghamton to speak out on the frequent mistreatment by contractors that they said is widespread throughout the industry.

Council Representative with the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Ian Williams said this malpractice has a multi-billion dollar annual impact on the economy.

“It’s just to get the awareness out about tax fraud in the construction industry, the underground economy, the wage theft, insurance fraud and things like that that go on regularly for an $8 billion a year issue,” said Williams.

Another person at the demonstration, Will Chamberlain has been working as a carpenter in the area for more than 30 years. He said instances of mispayment of taxes and mispayment of workers are frequent and affect employees and taxpayers alike.

“It’s bad for the worker, it’s bad for realistically every tax-paying individual,” said Chamberlain. “All those tax dollars are not being paid in and our tax rates go up and all these taxes that should have been paid in were not so therefore we’re just paying more and more.”

Williams added that the mission of Monday’s demonstration was to spread this message to everyone, including both the community and public officials.

“The taxpayers are the voting people they are the ones who are paying tax dollars which are funding such projects,” said Williams. “[This is] just so they know where their money is going and if it’s leaving the state or staying here obviously the local public officials, state public officials and anyone willing to listen.”

Similar demonstrations were held by members of the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters all across the state, everywhere from Buffalo to Long Island.

View video here.