NYT: Lettire Construction Agrees to Pay Back Wages for Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/nyregion/lettire-construction-agrees-to-back-pay-for-workers.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
Published: July 27, 2012

Nicholas Lettire has won awards and political support for building affordable housing in Harlem and the Bronx, and for employing local workers at his construction sites.

But Mr. Lettire did not always make sure that those workers were paid proper wages and benefits on at least two projects, even as he took federal housing money, according to the United States Department of Labor.

The Labor Department announced on Thursday that Mr. Lettire, a founder of Lettire Construction, had agreed to guarantee payment of about $960,000 in back wages and fringe benefits for dozens of workers employed by his subcontractors as part of a settlement of a case brought against the company last year.

The company and Mr. Lettire also agreed to hire a monitor approved by the Labor Department to ensure that it complies with labor laws and contracting requirements. At the same time, the company agreed to investigate prospective subcontractors for their ability to pay prevailing wages on federally subsidized projects and establish an electronic timekeeping system.

FULL story at link.