The California Labor Commission on Monday filed a lien on the Holiday Inn Express property in Eureka with the Humboldt County Recorder’s Office to recover more than $247,600 in unpaid wages for 31 construction workers.
PacWest Contracting, the subcontractor hired by Jansen Construction to build the hotel, allegedly misclassified employees as independent contractors to pay them less, California Department of Industrial Relations spokesman Peter Melton said.
Tempe-based Flooring Demolition Specialists LLC has paid $103,554 in back wages and liquidated damages to 24 employees.
An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that the Tempe floor removal contractor willfully violated the overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The investigation by the division’s Phoenix District Office disclosed that a certain group of employees was paid straight time for all hours worked and did not receive an overtime premium for hours worked beyond 40 per week, as required by FLSA. The Tempe company also failed to pay employees for hours worked while loading company trucks and for travel time to job sites.
By Mark Breslin
Editor’s Note: Senate Bill 7 is co-authored by Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, but opposed by leaders of the charter cities in his district, including Modesto and Merced. It was passed by the Senate 28-10 in late May. Last week it was approved by the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and now it is now in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.As the CEO of United Contractors, I represent hundreds of bottom line, hard-nosed, results-oriented, and fiscally conservative business leaders and CEOs. We support paying prevailing wages because we know what we are getting for our money. Specifically, we know that we are getting highly talented professionals who will get the job done on time and on budget.
At the same time, we are proud that we are creating local jobs – all while modernizing and expanding California’s infrastructure.
By KAREN LEE ZINER
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE – For six years, Enrique Sarceno worked on a garbage truck, emptying 30-gallon barrels on a municipal route in Franklin, Mass. At day’s end, Sarceno would strip off his rank-smelling clothes and head for the shower.
He thought the money was good – $17 an hour. But when the former American Waste Services company, in Raynham, hired him, Sarceno knew nothing of the Massachusetts prevailing wage law under which he would have been paid at least $5 more per hour.
Graduates will become full-time PHA employees
Philadelphia, PA – August 13, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) – The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) has launched a revamped Pre-Apprenticeship Program for its residents. This comprehensive job training course teaches participants skills in maintenance and repairs. Upon completion of the program, graduates will become full-time PHA employees.
PHA’s President & CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah, who committed to having PHA residents make up 25 percent of the agency’s workforce, called the relaunch a major step forward, and a great effort to better position PHA residents for sustainable employment.
Misclassification of workers as independent contractors remains a top employment law problem area, frequently resulting in fines, orders for back wage payments, penalties and an array of headaches for unsuspecting employers. Proper classification of workers can be difficult for several reasons:
Saying this was only a “minor setback,” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and other members vowed Tuesday they would appeal a court ruling that struck down the “prevailing wage” law.
“Make no mistake, we will appeal and we will be victorious in our efforts,” Quinn said surrounded by members of Local 32BJ SEIU, which represents property service workers in the city.