In wake of filing a lawsuit against companies affiliated with Kushner Companies and Namdar Group projects, LIUNA has filed related charges with the National Labor Relations Board seeking to deter union busting and protecting workers’ rights to organize.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We are in this fight for the long haul. Because an injury to any worker is an injury to all of us. And because when one contractor cuts corners, other contractors will be paying attention to see what they can get away with too,” LIUNA organizer Chris Capers said at a press conference yesterday.
“As union members it is our responsibility to hold the line to make sure there are good quality construction careers for generations to come.”
The lawsuit seeks to recapture stolen wages for workers who are owed more than $2 million in allegedly stolen wages and damages for work completed on two major Jersey City development projects.
The laborers were joined by three Jersey City Council members in support of their efforts at a rally at 242 Hudson St.
“When you steal wages from the workers who build our city you are not only affecting the workers. We need to stand with them because they are impacting the people of Jersey City,” Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro explained.
“We lose our payroll taxes which fund our Jersey City public schools and everybody else has to carry that burden. I urge the people of Jersey City to stand with the workers in this fight.”
At yesterday’s event, LIUNA announced they were pursuing action at the National Labor Relations Board against Concrete Rising and ARO Construction.
Workers at 242 Hudson St. allege that they were threatened with discharge if they supported or engaged in union activities.
Additionally, the union has filed charges on behalf of a worker who claims to have been denied employment because of his support for the union.
“We are here to stand up for something very fundamental, workers’ right to organize. We should never ever have to choose between speaking up for better wages and conditions and keeping our jobs,” expressed Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little.
“The allegations being raised here that workers are being threatened or even denied employment because they support a union are deeply disturbing and the filing of these NLRB charges is an important step towards protecting workers’ rights here in Jersey City and across the country.”
LIUNA was quick to highlight that these violations, despite happening across three different projects, share a key common denominator: AJD Construction.
“When the unions call we have to show up, we have a responsibility to show up and we want to make sure you get your just due,” stated Council President Denise Ridley.
“When you need us we are here. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. And in my position as Council President and as Chair of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency we’re going to do everything that we can to hold these people accountable.”
According to findings by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, more than 240 workers are owed more than $716,000 in unpaid wages, not including statutory liquidated damages, penalties, and other remedies available under state law.
This occurred since GP Concrete declared bankruptcy, leaving workers without a practical means of recovering what they earned.
However, under New Jersey’s up-the-chain liability law, contractors and other responsible entities can now be held accountable, which spurned the aforementioned lawsuit in August, which has the support of Jersey City Mayor James Solomon and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy.