CT DOL issues 13 "Stop Work" orders
Posted by NERCC on May 17, 2012 at 11:30 AM

The Connecticut Department of Labor issued “Stop Work” orders against 13 construction companies in recent weeks for misclassifying workers as “independent contractors.” The orders were issued in multiple communities where contractors were found to have misclassified workers for the purpose of avoiding their obligations to carry workers’ compensation and paying federal and state unemployment taxes, including unemployment.

One of the "Stop Work" orders was issued against NLP Contractors at the New London Plaza. Union carpenters have been protesting at the site, where renovations are being done and where North Carolina-based SandovalConstruction has already been issued a "Stop Work " order. (earlier post)

The Hartford Courant, New London Day, Republican American,  Danbury Patch and Greenwich Patch reported on the story. Sites where contractors issued "Stop Work" orders were issued were located in Danbury, Greenwich, New London, Preston, Naugatuck and Simsbury.

“Stop Work” orders result in the halting of all activity at a cited company’s worksite, as well as a $300 civil penalty for each day the company does not carry workers’ compensation coverage as required by law.

According to a release on the "Stop Work" orders by the Department of Labor: “in the past 12 months the agency has inspected 167 construction projects and reviewed the records of 688 contractors. A total of 281 “Stop Work” orders have been issued during this time, with 116 identified as being issued to out‐of‐state contractors. Since October 2007, a total of 735 “Stop Work” orders have been issued with $285,000 collected in civil penalties for the misclassification of workers. Additionally, referrals have been made to the Department of Revenue Services and the Labor Department’s Tax Division audit unit for further investigation.”
 

This blog post was updated form a previous post on 5/16 to include links to additional media coverage and information about the New London Plaza site.

Rego targets possible problems in FRHA
Posted by NERCC on May 15, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Dan Rego, a union carpenter and organizer who successfully ran for City Council in Fall River, is starting to shake things up in the Southeastern Massachusetts City. At a Monday night hearing for the Fall River Housing Authority, Rego raised questions about the agency's awarding of construction contracts and the payment and treatment of workers.

The Fall River Herald News reported on Rego's questions in today's paper. The Housing Authority cut off Rego's statement and went into Executive Session, ultimately voting to begin an independet investigation of the allegations, according to the paper. Rego has already discussed improprieties he has found on FRHA sites with Fall River Mayor William Flanagan as well as the offices of Attorney General Martha Coakley,  Inspector General Gregory Sullivan and State Auditor Suzanne Bump.

Rego told the Housing Authority that he has found issues with projects that are valued at less than $10,000, which are done with very little oversight.

Northeast Interiors ordered to pay $30k+ for violations
Posted by NERCC on May 14, 2012 at 02:14 PM

Braintree, Massachusetts-based Northeast Interiors has been ordered by the state to pay $20,000 in fines and make restitution of almost $16,000 to twelve employees. The company cheated workers on three projects in Arlington, Swampscott and Salem.

Civil citations were issued against Northeast Interiors and owner Kevin Fish for failure to pay prevailing wages for work performed ($5,000), failure to submit true and accurate certified payroll records ($7,500) and failure to keep true and accurate payroll records ($7,500). Violations occured when the company was doing work at Arlington Menotomy Manner, Swampscott Thomson Building and Salem Rainbow Terrace.

The case was handled by the Fair Labor Division of the Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley. Workers who feel their employer has paid them less than what they are owed, in violation of previaling wage laws or other wage and hour laws (ie, overtime) may contact the New England Regional Council of Carpenters for assitance or may file a complaint directly with the Attorney General's Office using this page.

Carpenters demonstrate against Sandoval
Posted by NERCC on April 12, 2012 at 12:17 PM

Carpenters in Connecticut have been protesting at the new London Plaza Hotel (formerly the Radisson Hotel) against Sandoval Construction of North Carolina. The company does not meet area standards for wages and benefits. It was also issued a Stop Work Order by the Connecticut Department of Labor last week for not having proper workers' compensation coverage.

The New London Patch posted a story, photos and video of the event.

 

NERCC calls for harsher penalties for those not buying workers' comp
Posted by NERCC on April 12, 2012 at 08:34 AM

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters and other industry groups are calling on the Massachusetts legislature to make it a felony for employers to fail to purchase workers compensation insurance for their employees. Senate Bill 915, sponsored by Senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose) and Majority Whip Ronald Mariano (D-Quincy) also has the backing of Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Operating without workers' compesnation insurance is currently a misdemeanor, punishable by upt oa year in prison or a find of up to $1,500. The new law would make the felongy punishapble by up to five years in state prison, two-and-a-half years in jail or a fine of up to $10,000.

NERCC Political Director Steve Joyce said that although union carpenters are always covered by workers' compensation insurance, they are still hurt by those who cheat.

"In an industry where work most often goes to whoever submits the lowest price, any contractor who does not purchase workers' compensation coverage has a competitive advantage right from the start over contractors who follow the law and have coverage," he said. "That negatively impacts any carpenter that works for a legitmate contractor. We're not looking to hurt all employers, we value the role they play in creating jobs. We just want everyone to comply with the law when they do it."

Even the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), a group that lobbies for businesses, support the bill. In a story by the State House News Service, John Regan, AIM's Executive Vice President described the current situation as unfair to too many.

"Their faliure to have that insurance in place means that if workers working for them get injured, the rest of the employer commnity pays the bill" and that making failure to have coverage a felony "reflects the seriousness of the issue, and conveys how important it is that coverage be in place."

According to the SHNS story, the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents has reported more than 1,000 cses costing the worekrs compensation fund $26 million in the last five years becuase their employer didn't have worers' compensation coverage. In recent years the department has routinely issued Stop Work Orders against more than 3,000 employer found to be operating without workers' compensation coverage.

NYTimes gets only part of Stamford story
Posted by NERCC on February 24, 2012 at 09:26 AM

"Stamford Plan Hits a Speedbump" is the headline of a piece in the national version of the New York Times today. And while the reporter seems to go out of her way to heap praise on the Harbor Point project being developed by Carl Kuehner's Building and Land Technology (BLT), the headline and the substance of the article probably make Kuehner wish the article had never been published. It's become a familiar feeling for him lately.

The Times article is about a dispute between Keuhner's BLT and Stamford's Downtown Special Services District (DSSD), which acts as a guide and clearinghouse for downtown development. The group participated in a grueling process to develop guidelines that B&LT is attempting to ignore with a planned 124-room hotel. The DSSD is digging in its heels and getting strong support from within Stamford, because, despite the Times focus on this single issue, Kuehner and Harbor Point have come under fire repeatedly in recent months for behavior that indicates a consistent, disdainful attitutde toward standards, rules and anyone that attempts to defend them.

The Harbor Point site has been the subject of repeated demonstrations by union carpenters calling attention to the presence of subcontractors on site who do not pay area standard wages and benefits for carpenters on all of their projects.

Local residents became upset and demanded answers from B&LT and Stamford City officials when a previously existing boathouse was demolished in defiance of an agreement to maintain a full service boatyard at the site. Mayor Michael Pavia seemed curiously ignorant of the situation until asked by reporters. The Zoning Board later ordered BLT to stop demolition work.

Not long after, an article in the Stamford Advocate headlined "Developer Shows Signs of Disregarding Rules" detailed a number of instances where the Kuehner and BLT acted as if they were entitled to do just about whatever they wanted at Harbor Point, including trying to restrict the public from using public playgrounds and parking spaces, illegally blocking streets and building without permits.

In recent weeks, union claims about improper treatment of workers were borne out when the Department of Labor issued Stop Work Orders against 8 subcontractors working at Harbor Point for violating wage, hour or insurance laws. Three of the companies were charged with returning to work in defiance of previous Stop Work Orders without permission from the DOL.

The issue is not new to BLT or the construction industry. Subcontractors on other BLT projects had been the subject of at least eight Stop Work Orders for misclassifying workers and other violations. One subcontractor, Heritage Drywall, was ordered to pay more than $100,000 in owed wages and penalties on a BLT project. A reporter permitted to do a "ride along" with the DOL on the Harbor Point visit put it in a greater context of an industry spiraling out of control and costing honest businesses and taxpayers more than they know.

Despite the current "speed bumps," the Harbor Point project and a companion hotel will undoubtedly be completed in some fashion and will benefit the City. But Stamford and its residents might suggest a few flashing yellow or red lights for those dealing with Kuehner and BLT in the future.

 

Stop work orders issued at Harbor Point, media depicts industry mess
Posted by NERCC on February 17, 2012 at 10:55 AM

The Connecticut Department of Labor's Wages & Workplace Standards Division, has issued "Stop Work Orders" against eight contractors working on the Harbor Point project in Stamford, continuing a string of bad practices and bad press for the city and the project's developer, Carl Kuehner's Building and Land Technology (BLT).

The Stamford Advocate has run a significant story on the orders, as well as an excellent piece detailing the Department of Labor's efforts to confront extensive problems in the construction industry. Both are well worth reading and sharing.

Avilik Inc., Flagg World, M&M Construction, Pillar Construction, T.F. Andrews, Brothers Contracting, Continental Tile and Kitchen Classics were the companies cited for various violations of wage, hour, insurance or tax laws by the Department of Labor's Stop Fraud Unit. None of the companies are based in Connecticut. Some are only as close as New York, some have come from as far away as Maryland, according to the Advocate.

Three of those companies--Brothers Contracting, Continental Tile and Kitchen Classics--are being charged with violating a previous stop work order by going back to work without clearence by the DOL.

The project has come under intense criticism in Stamford, where citizens feel the developer and oher companies based in Harbor Point has been given too much control with little or no oversight. Union carpenters have started an online petition calling for Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia to step in and give residents more of a voice. Please read and consider signing the petition here.

Durham Carpenters to be paid
Posted by NERCC on February 09, 2012 at 09:02 AM

Carpenters who were cheated of tens of thousands of dollars in wages reached a settlement with Capstone Development and Cottage Builders yesterday to receive their pay. The companies are the owners and developers of the “Cottage of Durham,” an upscale housing project where the carpenters were employed. It will serve students attending the University of New Hampshire.

The carpenters solicited help in getting their pay after their employer, Builders Construction Services of Alabama, refused to pay them and then fired them and evicted them from company-provided housing when they asked for their wages.

The Carpenters union and local church, student and community groups supported the carpenters, holding a high profile march and demonstration last week. The event garnered significant local and regional media attention (link) that put Capstone under a public spotlight and raised questions about other troubles the Alabama-based company has had with college housing projects, including one in Connecticut.

“We’re happy that these carpenters are finally going to be paid,” said Joe Donahue a representative of the Carpenters Union in New Hampshire. “Wage theft is a real problem in the construction industry right now. It drives down industry standards and drives qualified people out of the industry. Capstone and other developers and general contractors need to be held accountable for the subcontractors they hire. They should implement better controls and have severe penalties for members of their building teams who break the law.”
 

 

Stamford developer still in hot water
Posted by NERCC on February 01, 2012 at 10:38 AM

Despite trying to pack the hall with its own supporters, a Stamford developer still faced a tough room last night in a Zoning Board meeting to discuss its future plans and ongoing zoning violations (also here) at their Harbor Point project. Building and Land Technology (BLT) has come under fire for its choice of subcontractors, labor violations on its projects and contributing to industry-wide issues targeted by enforcement agencies.

The seriousness of the issues at Harbor Point is compounded by the seeming lack of interest and/or ability of Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia.

Carpenters to support unpaid workers in Durham
Posted by NERCC on February 01, 2012 at 10:24 AM

Union carpenters will join with church, student and community groups to hold a news conference today at 3pm at the Community Church of Durham (NH) at 17 Main Street to release information about serious violations of state and federal law--including non-payment of wages--at the "Cottages of Durham." The "Cottages of Durham" is a new student housing development for students of the University of New Hampshire. It is being developed by Capstone Development/The Cottages of Durham.

Please read this and consider visiting the Cottages of Durham Facebook page and politely ask them to do right by these workers.

Construction workers at the Cottages of Durham describe multiple and flagrant violations of state and federal labor law.

These workers say that they worked long hours for many weeks without pay. When they complained about nonpayment of their wages, they were terminated and evicted from their housing.

Union carpenters stand in solidarity with these exploited workers and demand that Cottages of Durham/Capstone Development promptly pay these workers what they are owed in wages and overtime.

Area Standards Demonstration: Continental Contractors/Radisson
Posted by NERCC on January 31, 2012 at 12:40 PM

Carpenters in Boston will be holding an area standards demonstration on Thursday, February 1 from 11a-1p against Continental Construction. The company, which has been hired for renovation work at the Radisson Hotel does not meet area standards for carpenters' wages and benefits on all of its projects. The demonstration will take place at the Boston Radisson, located at 200 Stuart Street.

Area Standards Demonstration: Baystate/Marriott
Posted by NERCC on January 31, 2012 at 10:07 AM

Carpenters in Boston will be holding an area standards demonstration on Tuesday, January 31 from 3-5pm against Baystate Services, Inc. The demonstration will take place at the Marriott Copley Place on Huntington Avenue.

More information about Baystate and Marriott Copley Place.

Pulte subs ordered to pay more than $500k
Posted by NERCC on January 18, 2012 at 02:43 PM

Multiple enforcement agencies in Massachusetts today announced that five subcontractors employed by Pulte on sites in Eastern Massachusetts have been ordered to pay workers more than $400,000 in owed wages and make payments totaling $141,000 to cover unpaid taxes.

The order is the result of investigations that began after workers complained to Representatives of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters that they had been unpaid for extended periods of time. Workers went on strike at several Pulte locations and filed complaints with the state.

"The investigation fined five separate subcontractors, but the real culprit is Pulte Homes, a multi-billion dollar national homebuilder," said Mark Erlich, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. "Those subs are interchangeable and were just doing Pulte's bidding. Cheating is Pulte's business model and, unfortunately, that approach is far too common in the residential construction industry."

Subcontractors that were part of the order include:
--AM Construction Services and its President, Adimar Demoura, age 32 of Framingham, allegedly failed to pay four workers a total of $15,331.50 for framing work done on private residential projects in Braintree and Plymouth. They were also fined $22,500 in penalties.
--Five Stars Construction and its President, Alexandre Miranda, age 40 of Trumbull, Connecticut, allegedly failed to pay two workers a total of $30,700 for framing work done on a private condominium project in Natick. They were also fined $30,000 in penalties.
--Nunes Brothers Construction and its President, Tiago Aguiar M. Nunes, age 28 of Brooklyn, New York, allegedly failed to pay 23 workers a total of $99,086.75 for framing work done on private condominium and single-family homes projects in Braintree, Plymouth, Natick, and Northbridge. They were also fined $112,500 in penalties.
--Seven Seas Group and its President, Jackson Croscup, age 55 of Fall River, allegedly failed to pay five workers a total of $10,333 for framing work done on a private condominium project in Natick. They were also fined $20,075 in penalties.
--Two Brothers Construction and its President, Wellington DeLima Borges, age 41 of East Natick, allegedly failed to pay six workers a total of $34,751.50 for framing work done on a private home development project in Plymouth. They were also fined $34,500 in penalties.

Investigating the complaints were Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office (AGO), the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD), and the Joint Enforcement Task Force on the Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification (JTF). The JTF was established by Governor Deval Patrick through Executive Order #499 in March 2008 to coordinate multiple state agencies’ efforts to stamp out fraudulent employment activities by enforcing the state’s labor, licensing, and tax laws.

“All workers in the Commonwealth deserve to be paid for the wages they have earned, including their overtime,” said Attorney General Coakley. “We will continue to work together and take appropriate action to stop these unlawful business practices, level the playing field for companies and protect workers.”

“The Commonwealth is committed to insuring that all businesses carry both workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance coverage,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Joanne F. Goldstein. “We will not tolerate employers or developers who proceed without this coverage, which puts employees at risk and employers who play by the rules at a competitive disadvantage. The Joint Task Force will continue to take all necessary action to protect legitimate employers, employees and the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.”

Murphy winning favor among CT Carpenters
Posted by NERCC on January 12, 2012 at 10:39 AM

As he campaigns to move from the United States House of Representatives to the Senate this year, Connecticut's Chris Murphy has been renewing and strengthening his relationship with union carpenters. Murphy was recently endorsed by the Working Families Party and hit the streets to push for more infrastructure fudning.

Murphy recently attended an event in New Milford with union carpenters other trades workers and construction employers highlight the need to fund repairs to the structurally deficient Veteran's Bridge and other neglected structures. The project would provide an economic boost through job creation. It would also start to tackle major infrastructure deficiencies that are dangerous, stifle growth and lead to more costly repairs later.

Funding to repair the Veteran's Bridge in New Milford is in place, but proposed cuts could lead to eliminating commitments to many projects, including the Veteran's Bridge, according to an article by the Danbury News-Times.

Local 24 Carpenter and Representative Chris Bachant is quoted in the article supporting Murphy's efforts to fudn more infrastruture construction, especially if local workers can made the beneficiaries.

Chris Bachant, a Waterford resident and union carpenter who was one of several dozen people to attend the event, said "things are very tough right now" in the construction industry.

"It's fantastic what Murphy is promoting," Bachant said. "But I think we need to go one step further and make sure that local people are hired for these jobs."

A recent bridge construction project near his home, Bachant said, was awarded to a company from Minnesota.

The entire story can be read here.

Obama bringing construction industry good news tonight?
Posted by NERCC on September 08, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Boston Globe on Obama's speech tonight.

"Obama is likely to offer a package of ideas that would affect people in their daily lives -- tax relief, unemployment insurance, spending to support construction jobs, aid to states to keep people in their jobs."
.....
"White House officials said Obama would formally send his plan -- coined by the administration as the American Jobs Act -- to Congress next week."
.....
"In one upbeat sign for those looking for a Washington compromise, Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor have told Obama they see potential areas of agreement on jobs -- for example, infrastructure, which Obama has pushed repeatedly. Cantor also signaled to reporters Wednesday that he might support a payroll tax cut."

Globe goes beyond construction employment numbers
Posted by NERCC on August 17, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Boston Globe this weekend ran a piece that scratched just a bit beyond the surface of unemployment in the construction industry. Local 56 Pile Driver Barry Beaudoin and Local 40 Carpenter Vionet Montano were interviewed for the article, as was NERCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark Erlich.

More construction jobs coming to Boston
Posted by NERCC on August 05, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Construction will begin next week on "The Victor" an 11-story residential building near the Boston Garden that is being developed by the Simpson Housing, a Denver-based company. Suffolk Construction is the Construction Manager on the project.

Scheduled for occupancy in early 2013, the $140 million project will be home to 286 luxury apartments, 138 parking spaces and 17,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor. The project has been "on the books" for four years, according to a story by Brendan Lynch in the Boston Herald. Casey Ross, of the Boston Globe, also has details on The Victor and other potential developments in the neighborhood.

The Globe also features an array of projects in and around Boston that could be starting soon, though some are in the very early stages of planning or seeking funding.

Encouraging signs in Boston
Posted by NERCC on July 11, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Boston Globe reports that construction could be experiencing a slight bounce.

Developers across the Boston area are moving forward with a number of large construction projects that were stalled by the recession, creating thousands of jobs and ending one of the state’s most prolonged building slumps.
~~~~
But the impact on jobs will not be immediate, as many developers still must clear other obstacles before starting construction. And while some projects are moving forward, many others remain stalled or are barely inching forward, leaving union leaders skeptical that the recovery will proceed fast enough to help the long-term unemployed.

“I’ve been at a number of groundbreakings where pictures are taken and the right things get said, but then nothing happens,’’ said Mark Erlich, executive secretary of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters. “The iceberg is melting, but icebergs melt slowly.’’

Materials costs going up
Posted by NERCC on February 23, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Contractor survey says increase in materials costs may offset financial gains from improvement in industry this year.

Construction lending on the rise
Posted by NERCC on February 23, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports a significant increase in construction lending by major institutions, which is getting stalled projects back underway.

An influx of fresh capital into U.S. commercial real estate is bringing some long-stalled development projects back to life and launching new construction of apartments, office buildings and shopping centers.

The moves show that the industry, in a deep slump just a year ago, has entered recovery mode—at least in the nation's largest and healthiest markets. Analysts say the improved economy is giving rise to pockets of demand for new commercial space, while low yields on other investments prompt investors to seek higher returns in real estate.

The nascent turnaround comes even though many U.S. banks still are slogging through billions of dollars in bad commercial-real-estate loans, a big cause of bank failures. Still, some of the largest U.S. banks are tiptoeing back into commercial real estate.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. financed as much construction lending in the first six weeks of 2011 as the nation's second-largest bank by assets did in all of last year.

Follow up from Fox 5 in Georgia
Posted by NERCC on February 22, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Local Fox affiliate in Georgia that ran a piece about illegal immigrants being hired to work on public school projects in that state has run a follow-up. The second piece focuses on a group of more than 50 workers who were not paid for work they performed for a masonry contractor.

I-Team: Hiring Illegal Immigrants Pt. 2: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Schools, GCs play "hear no evil, see no evil..."
Posted by NERCC on February 17, 2011 at 12:00 AM

I-Team: Hiring Illegal Immigrants: MyFoxATLANTA.com

A Fox station in Georgia--and Georgia workers--take up some of the same issues NERCC has been working on. In this case it is immigrant workers building public schools without any attempt to verify their status. This is despite laws in Georgia requiring the use of the federal e-verify system.

The workers are not hired by the general contractor or even a subcontractor. They're brought in by a subcontractor to a subcontractor and are each paid as so-called "independent contractors" themselves.

When the reporter confronts the general contractor--the one who celebrates their winning low bid and will brag about the project's completion at the end--they shrug and claim to not know and not be responsible. The subcontractor doesn't respond to requests for information.

So who's responsible for the project and the laws being broken on them in the name of lowering the project cost? Whether it's the employment of undocumented workers or the classification of workers to cheat the government out of revenue and the workers out of basic protections, there are crimes being committed. The victims of the crimes are:
--The people in the industry who play by the rules and, therefore, can't compete.
--Workers who can't get jobs because they won't give up their protections and can't afford to work for what illegal immigrants do.
--Entire communities, which must struggle with budget crisis's exacerbated by cheating employers.

Bad news, good news
Posted by NERCC on February 14, 2011 at 12:00 AM

Banker and Tradesman details the January construction jobs numbers released by the Associated General Contractors and they are not good.

Unemployment in the industry nationwide rose from December to January, to 22.5%, with the loss of 32,000 jobs. The story noted that:

"...the industry's job losses came from the nonresidential construction sector, which lost 35,300 jobs between December and January, while the residential sector added 3,500 jobs. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors were hardest hit, losing 21,000 jobs. Heavy and civil engineering construction lost 7,000 jobs."

On the other hand, the Wall Street Journal has surveyed economists who now think 2011 looks better than previously thought.(subscription required). According to the survey of 51 economists, growth in the 4th quarter gross domestic product is expected to rise by 3.5% compared to last year, up from last month's estimates of 3.3%.

They rate the risk of returning to a recession at 12%, down from 22%.

The industry comes together
Posted by NERCC on February 09, 2011 at 12:00 AM

As cities, towns and states continue to feel the pinch from lean budgets, some are getting wise to the fact that cracking down on tax cheats could provide some relief. And businesses are jumping on board with an eye toward maintaining fairness in competition.

ConstructionCitizen.com leads us to a an article about just such a coalition in California.

ConstructionCitizen.com looks to be a valuable resource for those in the construction industry looking to stay up-to-date on the latest labor-management-owner efforts to promote honesty, fairness and training in the construction industry. Their website lists the following description:

We are owners, contractors and craftspeople who share the mission to advance a socially responsible, sustainable, value added construction industry.

As owners, we value social responsibility and sustainability as strategically important for our projects, for our image in our communities and for the long term success and return on investment of our businesses.

As contractors and subcontractors, we value the competitive advantage and business growth we can gain by supporting a constantly improving and sustainable workforce as a foundation for delivering superior value and quality to our clients.

As craftspeople, we value developing our skills and a long term career path that is rewarding and satisfying and with which we can be productive and respected as members of one of our nation's most vital industries.

Check them out.

AGC, contractors optimisitc for 2011
Posted by NERCC on January 31, 2011 at 12:00 AM

The Quincy Patriot Ledger yesterday published a story about prospects for the construction industry in 2011, featuring optimistic views by contractors.

Among those quoted were Lee Kennedy, CEO of Lee Kennedy Co:

“The public (projects) have been carrying the ball for the last two years, but people seem to be more confident on the private side,” CEO Lee Kennedy said. “We’re expecting there is going to be job improvement, and we think that’ll translate into some additional office space.”

State-by-state job numbers
Posted by NERCC on January 31, 2011 at 12:00 AM

While AGC contractors are cautiously optimistic about job growth in the construction industry for the coming year, the last year has been one of mixed results in New England. According to numbers presented by the AGC from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seasonally adjusted, three of the six New England states experienced modest job growth in the construction industry. Two states saw continued job loss, while Vermont remained largely unchanged.

By adding 800 jobs, New Hampshire's 3.6% increase in construction jobs put it 5th in the country. Massachusetts and Maine were 12th and 13th respectively. Rhode Island saw the loss of 1,200 construction jobs, making its performance 44th in the nation.

Here are the percentage job gains/losses for the New England states in the 12 months ending December 2010. The full table of 50 states is available here.

Connecticut: -4.9%
Maine: +0.8%
Massachusetts: +1.2%
New Hampshire +3.6%
Rhode Island: -7.1%
Vermont: 0%

2011 Construction Forecasts Mixed
Posted by NERCC on January 03, 2011 at 12:00 AM

2011 construction forecasts mixed
As the calendar turned from 2010 to 2011 over the weekend, reporters and columnists covering the Boston area construction market began making their predictions for what the new year will hold. The consensus? There was none. Opinons ranged from essentially a repeat of 2010 to a prediction of a significant turnaround. The good news--if it can be called that--is that nobody seemed to think things would get worse.

Scott VanVoorhis paints the rosiest picture, in Banker and Tradesman, under a headline that says "2011 Should Be A Breeze." (subscription required) Vanvoorhis points to a potential doubling of the size of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center as well as a probable resolution to the fight over legalizing casino gambling in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, neither is likely to generate many--if any--work hours for carpenters in 2011.

More likely to generate actual work this year, according to VanVoorhis, are older projects that have been shelved in recent years. Plans for multi-unit housing projects could be rolled out as rental properties rather than condos and increased overall economic improvements could lead to more office build-outs in 2011 and the return of some dormant plans for new office towers in 2012.

Another piece in Banker and Tradesman, (subscription required) however, cites mixed results from surveys that indicate modest growth, simliar to what was seen in 2010 for most segments.

The Boston Herald says the industry will get a boost from area colleges and universities. Northerastern University, Berklee College of Music, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Boston College all have plans to build significant projects his year. The building boom among the colleges and universities is due in part to endowments that have significantly recovered and constant competition to upgrade facilities.

The Boston Globe strikes a cautiously optimistic tone, calling for a gradual increase in activity throughout 2011, citing large projects by Liberty Mutual and Novartis AG. They also point to a continued move toward rental property building in and around Boston.

Reason for optimism?
Posted by NERCC on September 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM

An article in the Boston Business Journal last week indicated that an increased volume of filings with the Boston Redevelopment Authority is fueling some hope for increased building in the future.

BRA approval is necessary for most project approvals within the City. The agency expects to review 57 proposals before the end of 2010, about what it reviewed in 2007 and up from significantly from the 23 it reviewed last year, according to the BBJ.

While not all projects presented to the BRA end up being built, the significant increase may indicate developers are feeling more comfortable about moving their projects forward.

Prompt Pay bill passes in Mass
Posted by NERCC on August 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Massachusetts made it easier for construction subcontractors to collect payments for work completed this week when it passed into law a “prompt payment” bill. Under the law, schedules will be set for the timely billing and payment of money to subcontractors. If the schedule is not met, bills submitted by subcontractors will be considered conditionally approved.

The law will cover all private construction projects valued at more than $3 million. Public projects are already subject to such requirements.

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters was joined by the Building and Construction Trades and subcontractor associations in lobbying for the bill’s passage to protect smaller companies who struggle to keep cash flow going when payments for work are withheld.

Massachusetts is the 33rd state to enact such a law.

McCarron visits the Carpenters Center
Posted by NERCC on August 04, 2010 at 12:00 AM

UBC General President Douglas McCarron was in Boston today with General Secretary-Treasurer Andy Silins and ITC Director Bill Irwin to meet with AGC member contractors from throughout New England. McCarron and Operating Engineers General President Vincent Giblin have been regularly meeting with AGC members around the country to talk about the National Construction Alliance.

While he was here, we got a chance to ask the General President a few questions about the NCA, the UBC and the future of the construction industry.

Construction activity at UMass campuses
Posted by NERCC on July 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM

The Boston Globe did a story over the weekend about the aggressive building program at the University of Massachusetts, state-wide. While projects all over the state are stalled or canceled--including a major Harvard development--UMass is going full steam ahead.

NERCC's Mark Erlich is quoted in the piece.

Mass trying to kickstart development
Posted by NERCC on May 06, 2010 at 12:00 AM

From today's Boston Globe.

Governor Deval Patrick will spend up to $200 million in state funds this year to get 50 building projects around Massachusetts off the ground, hoping the money will lead to thousands of jobs for the moribund construction sector and significant additional economic activity.

The money, a mix of already budgeted and new funding, will support construction of hundreds of new homes, stores, and offices.

Among the projects are a 17-acre shopping complex in New Bedford, a new medical office building in Hingham for South Shore Hospital, and an expansion of offices at MathWorks, a Natick software maker.

Patrick’s chief economic development aide, Gregory Bialecki, predicted the government aid will result in an additional $1 billion in spending by private developers.

A map and short list of projects that have already gotten underway are available at the website for the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.

Conn holds panel on 1099s
Posted by NERCC on March 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM

A joint committee consisting of labor and industry leaders as well as various state investigative agencies is suggesting much stiffer fines and criminal sanctions against employers who misclassify workers as independent contractors.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal served as a co-chair of the group with Acting Labor Commissioner Linda Agnew.

Blumenthal called a crackdown on misclassification “long overdue -- because it does devastating harm to taxpayers, workers and honest businesses.

The University of Connecticut found that misclassification costs the state more than $10 billion in unpaid workers compensation premiums, unpaid payroll taxes and medical care for workers that is not reimbursed.

Blumenthal and other state agencies have investigated more than 350 employers in the last two years for misclassifying workers. Hundreds of “Stop Work” orders were issued against contractors who were not properly covering employees with workers compensation.

The group has recommended to lawmakers changes that would increase penalties against employers who misclassify from $300 per incident to between $300-$1,000 per day for each violation.

Press coverage is linked below, including video of this week’s press conference at which Blumenthal expanded on the group’s findings and recommendations.

The Connecticut Network has posted video of the press conference.

ConnPolitics.tv and the Connecticut Mirror posted stories and the Hartford Business Journal has posted several stories on the issue in the past year.

Signs of life in SEMass construction
Posted by NERCC on March 15, 2010 at 12:00 AM

The New Bedford Standard-Time is reporting today on an increase in building permit applications in area towns, which it cites as possible signs of recovery for the area. The increase in activity is chalked up to numerous factors, including hungry bidders pushing down bid prices and the influx of stimulus money.

Carpenters Local 1305 Business Manager Ron Rheaume was a source for the story, and is quoted in it: "We're finally getting people back to work after what I call the Great Depression. The last two years have been the worst I've seen around here in my 36 years on the job. The last two years, it's been so depressing it's ridiculous."

Where'd the stimulus money go?
Posted by NERCC on March 12, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Mark Erlich, head of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, chimes in on a story about the distribution stimulus money in Massachusettsin a story by Jay Fitzgerald of the Boston Herald.

“When they put together the stimulus program a year ago, they were talking about ‘shovel-ready’ jobs and a second WPA,” said Mark Erlich, head of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, referring to the Works Progress Administration’s building programs during the Great Depression. “That clearly hasn’t happened.”

Feds building for agressive push on misclassification
Posted by NERCC on February 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM

The NYTimes' Steve Greenhouse sums up the problem, what's being done by some states and what the Obama administration is preparing to do about it. Nice piece to share.

Companies that pass off employees as independent contractors avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes for those workers. Companies do not withhold income taxes from contractors’ paychecks, and several studies have indicated that, on average, misclassified independent workers do not report 30 percent of their income.

One federal study concluded that employers illegally passed off 3.4 million regular workers as contractors, while the Labor Department estimates that up to 30 percent of companies misclassify employees. Ohio’s attorney general estimates that his state has 92,500 misclassified workers, which has cost the state up to $35 million a year in unemployment insurance taxes, up to $103 million in workers’ compensation premiums and up to $223 million in income tax revenue.

“It’s a very significant problem,” said the attorney general, Richard Cordray. “Misclassification is bad for business, government and labor. Law-abiding businesses are in many ways the biggest fans of increased enforcement. Misclassifying can mean a 20 or 30 percent cost difference per worker.”

--

The Obama administration plans to expand investigations by hiring 100 more enforcement personnel. The I.R.S. has begun auditing 6,000 companies to see whether they are in compliance with the law.

--

The administration also plans to rewrite a three-decade-old I.R.S. rule that lets companies indefinitely classify employees as independent contractors — even when the government knows they are misclassified — so long as the company once had a reasonable belief that the workers were contractors.

Union contractor makes valuable donation
Posted by NERCC on December 14, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Jay Cashman, Inc. has been a union contractor for many, many years. The business--based in Quincy, Massachusetts and with offices in Boston, New York and Florida--does heavy civil and marine construction throughout the United States. Jay Cashman also acts as a developer and generous member of the business community and has been a sponsor of the "Carpenters Cure Fore Ovarian Cancer Classic."

His latest act of philanthropy was to donate more than 27 acres of company-owned land in Stoughton to a YMCA which it surrounds.

Obama focuses on job creation
Posted by NERCC on December 08, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Though early talk about a federal stimulus bill centered on economic growth and recovery, some felt too much was invested in tax cuts. And while Wall Street seems to be doing better, the talk of jobs has turned troublesome. More and more, mentions are being made of a "jobless recovery," a startling turn for those who imagined the stimulus bill serving as a job creating machine as the WWII spending efforts are remembered.

So it comes as welcome news that President Barack Obama is now talking about investment in actual job creation. His proposal would take advantage of unused money intended for bailouts of banks and financial institutions. There is resistance from the right, but Obama seems determined to try to use that unused money to both pay down some debt, but stimulate job growth.

In a speech at the Brookings Institution, Obama said he wants to give small businesses tax breaks for new hires and equipment purchases. He also wants to expand American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs and spend some $50 billion more on roads, bridges, aviation and water projects.

Finally, Obama would offer consumers rebates for retro-fitting their homes to consume less energy.

Step one: diagnose the problem
Posted by NERCC on December 03, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Efforts by Union Carpenters or other advocates to uncover bad deeds often run into a wall of ignorance or denial. But two prominently featured stories on Boston.com today shine a bright light on some significant issues in the construction industry and elsewhere that clearly need some attention.

The first relates to public work being awarded to contractors despite their previous violations of various laws and their failure to disclose those violations as required by law.

The story focuses on stimulus money given to companies for paving projects, but the lack of oversight is clearly a problem that carries into other projects at the state and local level. At it's worst, the problem is intentional, as awarding authorities ignore likely or confirmed violations of prequalification or bidding laws in order to hire the contractor that simply has the lowest price.

A clear example of this can be found in Hanover, where the town awarded a public school project to Callahan Construction, despite multiple warnings from the Attorney General's office that the company had misled the town. At issue there was the company's attempt to prequalify for the project by taking credit for similar work that was done by another company. Though they claim to be a successor, they did not disclose financial problems they would've been required to include in documents if that were the case.

The second is about the massive settlement Wal-Mart just reached with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This time out, the company is paying $40 million to almost 90,000 workers for illegally lowering workers pay by refusing to pay overtime, manipulating time cards and making workers skip legally mandated breaks.

Yes, 90,000 workers. Hardly a mistake with paperwork. And don't make the mistake of thinking Wal-Mart is being a good corporate citizen by settling the suit; it was filed in 2001!

Union trades workers resent backlash
Posted by NERCC on November 30, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Full story here....

A majority of Americans now say unions are bad for the nation, according to Gallup polls. And the loss of two big trade shows at McCormick Place, for which the expense of union help was blamed, is bound to provoke more grumbling about organized labor in Chicago, traditionally one of the most loyal of union towns.

At the office building construction site at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street, the talk among union workers the other day was tinged with bitterness. Many of the workers said they think they get a bad rap.

But at Gage, a fashionable cafe just a block from the pounding hammers and buzzing saws, Steve Thompson, a cyber-executive, said he considered $40-an-hour pay “unreasonable” for the crowd in steel-toe boots, “given their education and training.”

To workers in the trades, that kind of talk is as familiar as the freezing wind that slaps their faces on outdoor job sites, sometimes while working on a six-inch wide steel beam on the 75th floor.

Mass construction job numbers
Posted by NERCC on November 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Quincy Patriot Ledger Business Editor Jon Chesto tweets a link to a state release on jobs.

The bad news has reversed, but not in any meaningful way. From the release...

Construction gained 100 jobs in October, this sector's first monthly gain since February. At 108,400, Construction employment is down 22,100 or a 16.9 percent rate of job loss over the year.

McGraw Hill gives glimmer of hope for ‘10
Posted by NERCC on October 16, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Some segments of the construction industry could rebound and show some growth in 2010 according to a report on the Wall Street Journal on McGraw Hill forecast. The report is the one of the few positive indicators for an industry that has been hit harder than almost any other.

According to the WSJ article, the report indicates growth in single-family houses, apartment buildings, and highways and bridges next year help to offset continued building struggles in the commercial and manufacturing sectors.

The value of construction starts this year was expected to be down 25% by year’s end in comparison to 2008. McGraw Hill projects a possible increase 11%increase in the value of construction starts in 2010.

WSJ article and the McGraw Hill study require subscription or purchase.

KBE wins project, loses control
Posted by NERCC on September 18, 2009 at 12:00 AM

The Board of Selectmen in Madison, Connecticut has unanimously approved KBE Building Corporation as the construction manager for a $5.5 million senior and ambulance garage, but not without taking measures to prevent the company from hiring subcontractors that have contributed to problems on their projects in the past. The Madison Building Committee will determine and hold all contracts for subcontractors for the project in order to “take KBE out of the picture” according to the building committee chair.
KBE had been the only one in the running for the job until the Board of Selectmen asked that additional companies be considered. Though the interview of two additional companies did not change the end result of KBE getting the job, the town did seem to agree that leaving KBE to select subcontractors could lead to problems.

NERCC Organizers Margaret Conable and Bart Pacekonis were among those who spoke at the Selectman’s meeting on Monday. They discussed KBE’s history of hiring subcontractors that illegally misclassify employees as independent contractors, avoiding payment of Social Security, unemployment and other payroll taxes.

The story, with quotes from Conable and the building committee chair, was covered by the New Haven Register. The article is online at their site.

Union contractor "one to watch"
Posted by NERCC on August 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Congrats to Beth Sturtevant of CCB for being named one of the 2009 Women to Watch by Maine Biz, the state's leading business publication.

CCB is a longtime union signatory contractor in the state and Sturtevant has done radio ads with the New England Regional Council of Carpenters to promote the partnership between contractors and the union. It's a commitment she didn't shy away from in her interview with Maine Biz:

The company prides itself on being a “self-performing” general contractor, meaning it employs much of its craft labor directly, rather than through subcontractors. CCB is also a union shop, one of few of its kind in Maine, an alliance that supplies the company with well-trained and certified employees, she says.

Sturtevant, in her role as a board member for the Associated General Contractors of Maine, has long advocated and lobbied in Augusta for “responsible contracting” practices, or limiting use of independent contractors in the regular work force, a tactic some companies use to avoid providing health insurance, access to workers’ compensation and other benefits.

She’s also dedicated to her employees’ safety, and says the company’s experience modification rate, an insurance calculation that reflects historical safety statistics, has remained below average for years. “Ultimately, the buck stops with me, and the culture and the attitude we have in this company is safety is the priority,” she says.

Posted by NERCC on July 30, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Members will be rallying at an assisted living facility in Hanover, New Hampshire on Friday to kickoff a public education campaign in the area about Kal-Vin/GNPB/Northrock Construction. Kal-Vin, one of the names used by the collection of companies run out of the same office, is doing work at Kendal at Hanover, an assisted living facility owned and operated by the Kendal Corporation of Pennsylvania. Bannering by members will continue at the facility daily for several weeks.

Members will meet in front of the facility at 8am on Friday, July 31. The facility is located at Hanover-80 Lyme Road, in Hanover. Directions are as follows:

From Southeast or Northwest of Hanover:
Take I-89 to the Lebanon-Hanover/Dartmouth College exit (#18).
Turn onto Route 120 North and follow it until the road branches (at the light). Stay on Route 120 (straight ahead) all the way to the intersection with Route 10. Take a right onto Route 10 North and follow it for approximately 2 miles. Kendal at Hanover will be on your left.

From Southwest of Hanover:
Take I-91 to that Norwich, VT/ Hanover, NH-Dartmouth College exit (#13). Turn right and cross the bridge into Hanover, which will bring you to the Dartmouth Green. Go left at the far corner of the Green (across from the Hopkins Center) onto Route 10 North. Follow Route 10 North for approximately 2.5 miles from the Green. Kendal at Hanover will be on your left.

If you have any questions or problems please call Marty Coyle or Frank SantaFe.

Phat’s Hardwood Floor Cited $20,000 by MA Attorney General’s Office
Posted by NERCC on June 23, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has cited a Lynn flooring company, Phat’s Hardwood Floor, and its owner, Phat Q. Du, age 65, of Newton, for intentionally violating the Commonwealth’s record keeping laws by failing to submit certified payroll records on a weekly basis and failing to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the Arlington Housing Authority over a nine-month period in 2008. The citation orders Phat and his company to pay a $10,000 fine for each violation.

In January 2009, the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division received a complaint from the Arlington Housing Authority alleging that Phat’s Hardwood Floor failed to submit certified payroll records for work performed on the Menotomy Manor Housing project from March 2008 through December 2008. Employers who work on public works projects are required under state law to submit weekly certified payroll records to the appropriate awarding authority. The Records Keeping Laws allow state agencies to monitor the spending of taxpayer funds on public construction projects. Phat’s Hardwood Floor was performing hardwood flooring and sanding work as a subcontractor for CTA Construction, Inc., a South Boston-based general contractor, on the project.

Investigators reviewed the company’s certified payroll records which were submitted to the Town in January 2009, nearly nine months late, and discovered inconsistencies with the records which were provided by Arlington’s project managers. The Town Manager’s logs showed that the company had more employees working at the job site than were listed on the certified payroll records.

Last week, another CTA subcontractor, Garcia Drywall, reached a settlement agreement with the Massachusetts Attorney General in regards to complaints that the company failed to properly pay prevailing wages and overtime to carpenters employees. Twenty-six carpenters who worked for Garcia on projects in Dartmouth, Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts will be paid $41,600 in restitution. Garcia Drywall, Inc. and its president, Emanuel Garcia, agreed to pay over more than $18,000 in fines for intentionally violating Prevailing Wage and Overtime and Record Keeping Laws. In addition, Garcia and his company have agreed to a one-year debarment, which prevents them from bidding on any public construction projects, as well as from accepting any contracts for public work for a one-year period in the Commonwealth.

Garcia Drywall agrees to pay workers, fines and take one year debarment
Posted by NERCC on June 17, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Garcia Drywall has reached a settlement agreement with the Massachusetts Attorney General in regards to complaints the company failed to properly pay prevailing wages and overtime to carpenter employees. Twenty-six carpenters who worked for Garcia on projects in Dartmouth, Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts will be paid $41,600 in restitution.

Garcia Drywall, Inc. and its president, Emanuel Garcia, have agreed to pay over more than $18,000 in fines for intentionally violating Prevailing Wage and Overtime and Record Keeping Laws. In addition, Garcia and his company have agreed to a one-year debarment, which prevents them from bidding on any public construction projects, as well as from accepting any contracts for public work for a one-year period in the Commonwealth.

The AG’s investigation began in January when they received a complaint that employees weren’t being paid the prevailing rate.

Investigator’s from the AG’s Fair Labor Division reviewed a self-audit prepared by the company and discovered that the company had misclassified 26 employees at four public construction sites, including: two projects at UMass-Dartmouth; the Massport State Police Station at Logan Airport; and the Prattville Apartments in Chelsea.

Additionally, Garcia Drywall failed to submit certified payroll records to the awarding authorities at these job sites. Investigators also discovered that the company failed to pay time and a half to employees for working more than 40 hours in a work week.

Click here to read the Attorney General’s Press Release.

The New Bedford Standard Times reported on the AG’s filing today. The Herald News also ran a story in today’s paper.

Many news sites allow readers to post comments about a story. Reader comments may appear beneath the story with a form for submitting more comments. Members are encouraged to use this feature and express their feelings about stories they read online concerning union and construction issues. Remember these are public forums, so be direct, but respectful of others. Site editors do reserve the right to remove comments they find objectionable.

Conservative paper highlights seedy side of construction industry
Posted by NERCC on May 26, 2009 at 12:00 AM

The Manchester Union-Leader, a New Hampshire newspaper that has generally stuck to its very conservative roots even as the politics of the state become gradually more moderate to liberal, printed a two-story feature in it’s Sunday edition about the dark side of the construction industry in the state.

The stories center around Juan Garcia Hernandez, a "jefe" NERCC Organizers also knew as Juan Garcia. Hernandez supplied immigrant drywall workers for several projects in the region, including projects financed by the federal government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was also arrested by state and federal agents on Easter weekend in New Hampshire’s biggest drug bust when he and some others were caught with 100 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $4 million.

NERCC Organizers have been talking to employees working for Hernandez and other jefes for a long time, finding low wages promised, though sometimes unpaid. Without a concerted Federal effort to limit illegal immigration, several years ago the union decided it would be better served talking to immigrant workers and helping them fight for decent treatment.

The stories highlight how and why things have gotten so bad in the industry. Hutter Construction, who was the general contractor where Hernandez was subcontracted for drywall work, claimed they didn’t know a thing about Hernandez. Though their website brags about their skills as a company that can manage all aspects of a project including "supervision," "job records and reports," and "establish boundaries and benchmarks," they tried to run from any involvement with Hernandez in the story:

"The actual contract was with Granite State Drywall," said Chad Gibson, Hutter's project manager, adding that he was unaware Hernandez was involved in the project.
"It would be very hard for us to police three tiers down the line who is hiring them," Gibson said. "It's somewhat beyond our control."

[emphasis added]
The two stories can be read online here and here. The Manchester Union-Leader, like many news sites, allows readers to post comments about a story. Reader comments may appear beneath the story with a form for submitting more comments. Members are encouraged to use this feature and express their feelings about stories they read online concerning union and construction issues. Remember these are public forums, so be direct, but respectful of others. Site editors do reserve the right to remove comments they find objectionable.

Workers Memorial Day video
Posted by NERCC on May 05, 2009 at 12:00 AM

A video with sights and sounds from last week's Workers Memorial Day observance at the State House in Massachusetts has been posted to YouTube by NECarpenters.

Bad contractors, good grades?
Posted by NERCC on May 04, 2009 at 12:00 AM

NERCC Organizers have been fighting the fight for years. A general contractor wins a public job and makes a mess of it. The project may come in way over budget or months--even years--behind schedule. The city or town might have to file suits to have work completed properly. Then, mysteriously, on evaluation forms the state uses to certify contractors, the contractors in question is given a passing grade. The contractor stays in good standing with the state and future communities where they bid are left in the dark.

Boston's Fox 25 Undercover did a piece on just such a contractor, Barr, Inc. , and the broken system that's supposed to protect communities. Please note that Barr, Inc. is a Connecticut-based firm unrelated to union contractor Barr and Barr.