25 Workers Awarded $1.2 Million in Back Wages
Read NCSRCC's full Press Release: Minnesota’s New Wage Theft Laws Puts Employers on Notice >>
The North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters (NCSRCC) worked closely with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and twenty-five workers to recover $1.2 million in back wages related to unlawful practices on the Viking Lakes project in Eagan, MN and 18 other construction projects. DLI announced Tuesday, December 19th, that they are seeking $2.4 million in back wages and liquidated damages against Property Maintenance and Construction Inc. (PMC) and Advantage Construction Inc. (Advantage). Workers were willfully unpaid by PMC owner and actively discouraged from reporting violations and cooperating with the DLI investigation.
Now the employer is challenging DLI’s findings which will be resolved at a hearing before an administrative law judge. The result of this hearing will be a significant step toward protecting employee’s and holding contractors accountable for their business practices. NCSRCC will continue to work with the DLI and other industry partners to find justice for workers who have fallen victim to wage theft practices, as well as partner with contractors to continue fair and lawful decision-making.
Review news coverage on the DLI’s investigation:
- https://minnesotareformer.com/2023/12/19/minnesota-regulators-seek-2-4-million-for-construction-workers-in-historic-wage-theft-case/
- https://finance-commerce.com/2023/12/minnesota-dli-alleges-widespread-wage-theft-on-19-projects/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/dli-viking-lakes-construction-wage-theft/
- https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-seeking-2-million-from-vikings-lakes-subcontractors-accused-of-wage-theft-pmc-advantage/600329446/
- https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-seeks-2-4-million-from-contractors-for-wage-theft-unlawful-practices
- https://www.twincities.com/2023/12/19/dli-investigation-alleges-vikings-lakes-contractors-carried-out-wage-theft/
- https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/dli-seeks-2-4m-in-owed-wages-damages-from-2-construction-contractors/
- https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/minnesota-labor-department-investigation-construction-companies-reveals-wage-theft-illegal-practices/89-21236fb0-c6a2-4eae-b7c7-73c098d51f8b