3 Construction Firms Fined Over Wage Violations At Sutton PD Site

MILFORD, MA — Three local companies — including one based in Milford — will pay over $636,000 in fines for failing to pay the state's prevailing wage during the construction of the new Sutton police headquarters, Attorney General Maura Healey said Wednesday.

According to Healey, the three construction companies paid workers between $15 and $20 when they were supposed to be paid the state's $68.72 prevailing wage. Healey's office discovered the violation after a tip from North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters union.

Milford-based WF North Lion Inc. will pay a $20,145 fine, Burlington-based Machados Construction Services will pay close to $400,000, and Franklin-based Real Construction Inc. will pay about $217,000. The Machados company also failed to pay prevailing wage on a public project in Malden, Healey said.

The state's prevailing wage law sets a minimum wage for public projects. The new $8.4 million Sutton police station opened along the Central Turnpike in mid-2019.

"Prevailing wage laws are in place to ensure there is a level playing field for those who work on our public projects," Healey said in a statement Wednesday.