Drywall Contractor Accused of Failing to Pay Wages to Carpenters

Editor’s note: We published this story earlier in the week, but here it is again in case you missed it.

On Tuesday, a Connecticut Department of Labor investigation found that a construction contractor performing work in Connecticut failed to pay over $20,000 in prevailing wages to five carpenters working on a construction project.

The violations came to light when staff of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters spoke with workers at the job site.

Wall Systems Inc. of Rocky Hill was mandated to issue checks to the workers for the lost wages. Checks issued for the back wages fell between $2,700 and $4,500 for each carpenter.

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Prevailing wages for carpenters is $54.99 an hour including benefits. Workers were paid $20 an hour in cash by Wall Systems.

“Being paid in cash is illegal the construction industry. It opens the way for sketchy contractors to side-step payroll requirements set up by the state. Unfortunately, it’s a common business practice that can end up harming the construction workers toiling to rebuild our schools and public buildings,” said Senior Organizer Ted Duarte of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters in a statement. “Whether it’s skipping out on payroll taxes or simply cutting one’s labor costs, this practice by nefarious contractors hurts both the taxpayer and law-abiding employers. The taxpayer fails to enjoy the benefits of the cost-saving measures of prevailing wage while a law-breaking contractor pockets the difference.”

Photo courtesy of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters.