State decision on prevailing wage follows complaint by carpenters council.
By David Roeder
Feb 24, 2020
The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters said Monday the developer and subcontractors that built a senior living center in Northbrook have been ordered to pay $1.1 million to employees for violating state law on prevailing wages and benefits.
The Illinois Department of Labor, responding to charges the council filed, ordered the back pay for employees who constructed the Lodge of Northbrook, a 164-unit facility at 2150 Founders Drive, Northbrook. The project benefited from bonds issued by the Illinois Finance Authority, making it subject to the state’s Prevailing Wage Act. …
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Gary Perinar of the carpenters council said the back pay award is the largest in its history. He said many workers will receive thousands of dollars paid out over a year.
“We have a new department dedicated to combating wage theft and are putting unscrupulous contractors on notice that cheating workers and taxpayers will not be tolerated,” he said. The council is a part owner of Sun-Times Media. …
“Wage theft and the loss of tax revenue affects everyone,” Perinar said. “It takes advantage of workers, many of whom are unaware of their right to receive fair wages and benefits for themselves and their families. It puts signatory union contractors at a disadvantage for competitively bid projects. And it cheats communities out of tax dollars to increase future growth, new projects and public services. Thanks to our research team for discovering this injustice and to the Department of Labor for enforcing the law.”