The U.S. Department of Labor and MDG Design & Construction LLC have reached a settlement over wage violations atthe federally-assisted 26-story Grand Street Guild rehab project in New York City’s Lower East Side. MDG and other firms involved will pay $3.8 million in back wages and fringe benefits to about 200 of MDG’s subcontractors’ construction workers.
Previous investigations led to the repayment of more than $1.1 million in back wages to 300 laborers and mechanics who worked for MDG’s subcontractors.The contractors have also agreed to expansive compliance measures to prevent future violations.
The labor department’s Wage and Hour Division found numerous Davis-Bacon and Related Acts violations by MDG subcontractors, including failure to pay required prevailing wages and submitting inaccurate or falsified payroll records to the government. As part of the settlement, MDG will retain an independent monitor for three years with responsibilities for conducting regular reviews of the company and its subcontractors to confirm compliance with applicable wage and hour laws on all prevailing wage and federally-assisted projects.
In addition to MDG, the settlement agreement includes Charis Consulting LLC, Kona Contracting LLC, as well as Michael Rooney and Nicola DeAcetis — owners of all three companies — and Neys Escobar, an owner of Kona. All of the companies are based in Huntington Station, N. Y.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 1, 2015
Department of Energy asks for feedback on cost-effectiveness of building energy codes
DOE’s RFI wants input on how to improve methodology on cost assessment.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
New York State renews design-build authority
Five state agencies are allowed to use design-build on certain projects.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
OSHA’s estimated cost of silica rule said to underestimate impact by $4.5 billion annually
The coalition says that OSHA’s flawed cost estimates point to flaws in the rule, and has urged the federal agency to reconsider its approach.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
2016 Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings draft available for public review
The comment period is open until May 29.
Codes and Standards | Apr 22, 2015
GBCI renamed Green Business Certification Inc.
The name change reflects the organization’s expanded certification and credentialing services.
Multifamily Housing | Apr 16, 2015
Seattle’s size restriction on micro apartments blamed for rise in rents
Seattle’s city planner recently said that the council’s new rules have made small apartments more expensive to build and charged the board with “overreaching” and not giving micro-housing “a fair shake.”
Green | Apr 16, 2015
New version of Building Energy Data Exchange Specification launched
BEDES is a dictionary that facilitates consistent exchange of building characteristics and energy use data between tools and databases in the building energy efficiency sector.
Codes and Standards | Apr 16, 2015
New York tops U.S. cities in walkability
Revitalization pushes Detroit and New Orleans up the rankings
Green | Apr 14, 2015
USGBC will recognize energy and water standards for the Living Building Challenge
This move means that projects achieving the energy and water requirements in Living Building Challenge will be considered as technically equivalent to LEED.
Codes and Standards | Apr 14, 2015
New York City preparing new codes for evacuation elevators
New York City’s Fire, Buildings, and City Planning Departments in New York are writing rules to govern occupant-evacuation elevators, reflecting a change in philosophy of how to evacuate people from skyscrapers in an emergency.