Connecticut taxpayers and construction workers assembled last week at a protest in front of the UBS North American Headquarters in downtown Stamford. They were there to protest Turner Construction”™s ability to continue construction despite allegedly unfair hiring practices and employment of subcontractors that are under state investigation.
Turner Construction denies the allegations and identifies itself as a responsible employer and sturdy corporate citizen.
“Turner Construction of Connecticut is not playing by the rules and in general is just a bad corporate citizen,” said Charles LeConche, business manager and secretary treasurer of the Connecticut Laborers”™ District Council. “We have presented to state officials information about a Turner Construction subcontractors, such as Maitz Demolition which hired undocumented workers and BN Construction Group of Milford, Pa., which is not registered with the state of Connecticut, is not bonded and does not pay any state taxes. Officials at the new West Hartford Police Department, another Turner Construction project, should not be so happy, as well. A Turner Construction subcontractor that worked on that project denied wage and other payments to its workers and was heavily fined by the state department of labor.”
“Turner is a significant employer in the state, a substantial contributor to Connecticut’s economy and a good corporate citizen,” said Shannon Eckhart, public relations manager
for Turner Construction, in a prepared statement. “Turner verifies the employment authorization status of our employees as required by law. Turner is committed to utilizing quality subcontractors.”
Other subcontracts in question are McCarthy Concrete, and J&R Contracting.
McCarthy Concrete was last year accused of paying substandard wages by the Connecticut Laborers”™ District Council.
Anthony McCarthy, owner of McCarthy Concrete, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence after threatening union demonstrators, including LeConche, with a loaded shotgun and knife at McCarthy”™s home in October. McCarthy claimed that LeConche was protesting at McCarthy”™s South Windsor home regarding more than 40 of McCarthy”™s workers not joining LeConche”™s union, not that McCarthy was paying substandard wages, as the union formally alleged.
“We want to know how Turner could be prequalified to bid for these works when they have broken these qualifications and state standards that the rest of the industry must take part in,” said LeConche.
“We select subcontractors who share our dedication to quality, safety and compliance with all applicable labor laws, including immigration laws,” said Eckhart. “Unauthorized workers are prohibited from working on all Turner jobsites.”
LeConche has sent letters to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal prompting him to investigate the issues.
