University Of Connecticut Officials Fail Preliminary Employee Payroll Document Test By Delaying Paperwork Review & Unsuccessfully Gathering Related Payroll Records Regarding West Classroom Building

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 10, 2010 --

(Hartford, CT) – The Connecticut Laborers’ District Council announced today that its efforts to review contractor and employee payroll records relating to the development and construction of the West Classroom Building on the University of Connecticut (UConn) main campus were purposely delayed for over six weeks. Then, after receiving the requested information last week, payroll records were found to incomplete and not in compliance of standard record keeping procedures. In the meantime, the Connecticut Labor Department this week also began its own review of UConn payroll records for construction related contractors and employees.

“For nearly two months now, we have requested contractor and employee payroll information from Skanska, the construction management company for the project, and UConn officials. Finally, last Friday, we picked-up the supposed requested records however we found many items to be incomplete and missing. The purpose of reviewing these important records is to ensure that employees on the jobsite are being paid according to their job classification so that state and Federal taxes are paid properly along with workman compensation payments,” explained Charles LeConche, business manager, Connecticut Laborers’ District Council. “We are very carefully monitoring this project along with all University of Connecticut construction projects to make sure workers are paid according to the prevailing wage laws. This ensures that all workers on the site are legitimate, documented workers and that area construction standards are compliant.”

In November 2008, LeConche was appointed by Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell to the state Employee Misclassification Advisory Board. The six-member Employee Misclassification Advisory Board advised the joint enforcement commission on employee misclassification issues in the construction industry. On June 12, 2008, Public Act No. 08-156 "An Act Concerning Employee Misclassification" became effective on July 1, 2008 and stated that recommendations and a report be produced on or before February 1, 2010 by the commission.

“We are looking forward to the Employee Misclassification legislation finally becoming law with Governor Rell’s signature during the next several weeks. This will send a strong message to all contractors and construction management companies that all workers on the jobsite need to be paid according to our existing prevailing wage laws or strict penalties will apply,” said LeConche.

The Connecticut Laborers’ District Council represents approximately 7,500 members employed in the construction industry, public sector and other building and trade fields throughout the state. The Laborers’ International Union, founded in 1903 largely by immigrant workers, includes more than 800,000 members who work in construction and hazardous materials remediation, as well as in healthcare, the U.S. Postal Service and other public service sectors of the economy. For more information, call 860.296.8697 or visit www.CTLPL.com.

More information can be found online at http://www.CTLPL.com

charles leconche     skanska     university of connecticut