Construction workers recover $77,000 after being denied prevailing wage

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has recovered $77,206 in back wages for five workers employed on a federally funded construction project after finding that one subcontractor failed to pay prevailing wages and fringe benefits and another submitted falsified payroll records.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division found that two Massachusetts contractors—Claras Construction Inc. and Westview Building Co. Inc. – violated the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts while working on a project for the Brookline Housing Authority in 2023. Prime contractor Daniel O’Connell’s Sons Inc. of Holyoke subcontracted to Westview Building Co. which in turn subcontracted to Claras Construction for framing work.

The department reported finding that Claras Construction of Malden failed to pay its workers required wages and fringe benefits and failed to maintain accurate payroll records. The department also determined that Westview Building Co. of Canton falsified certified payroll records for Claras Construction to avoid paying prevailing wage and fringe benefits.

The government agency recovered $77,206 in back wages from the main contractor, Daniel O’Connell’s Sons, which was responsible for ensuring its subcontractors complied with DBRA’s contractual clauses. Additionally, the department barred Claras and Westview from working on future federally funded construction projects for three years.

Daniel O’Connell’s Sons Inc. is a construction management company operating in New England since 1879. Approximately 200 people are employed at five regional offices in Holyoke and Milford, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Kingston, New York; and Aventura, Florida.

Source: Department of Labor

TOPICS
construction