THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
ONE ASHBURTON PLACE
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02108
 (617) 727-2200
 (617) 727-4765 TTY
 www.mass.gov/ago

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    MEDIA CONTACT:
March 25, 2008       Harry Pierre
         (617) 727-2543

 WORCESTER DRYWALL COMPANY ORDERED TO PAY MORE THAN $70,000 FOR VIOLATING PREVAILING WAGE AND RECORDS KEEPING LAWS

WORCESTER – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office issued a civil citation against a Worcester drywall company and its owner for intentionally violating the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage and Records Keeping Laws for work performed at the Northampton Senior Center in Northampton, MA.  Jose Cordeiro Lessa Nunes, age 33, of Worcester, and his company, JC Drywall & Plastering, Inc., were cited for Failure to Pay the Prevailing Wage, Failure to Provide a Suitable Paystub, Failure to Submit True and Accurate Certified Payroll Records and Failure to Submit General Payroll Records.  Nunes and his company were ordered to pay $35,480 in civil penalties and $37,271 in restitution to five employees whom the company failed to pay the prevailing wage from September 2006 through December of 2006.

Based on a review of certified payroll records maintained by the awarding authority and interviews with employees, the Attorney General’s Office ascertained that JC Drywall’s employees were not paid the prevailing wage.  The employees stated they were paid anywhere from $16 to $18 per hour.  According to the certified payroll records that JC Drywall submitted to the awarding authority, the company represented that it paid these employees anywhere from $31.90 to 40.88 per hour.  An audit of the certified payroll records showed that $37,279.41 in restitution is owed to these five employees.  In May of 2007, the Attorney General’s Office sent a demand to JC Drywall to provide its general payroll records for inspection.  To date, JC Drywall has failed to supply its general payroll records to the Attorney General’s Office.

The Prevailing Wage and Records Keeping Laws apply to all construction work performed on public works projects in Massachusetts.  The Prevailing Wage Laws allow all contractors bidding on public works projects to enjoy a “level playing field” by standardizing the rate of pay the workers will earn.  The Records Keeping Laws allow state agencies to monitor the spending of taxpayer monies on public construction projects.

Employees who believe their rights have been violated are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465.
 
The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Miranda Jones, with assistance from Inspector James Kelley, both of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Fair Labor Division.