An $18 million renovation of the Boston Marriott Copley Place that paid illegally low wages to men from a Philadelphia church was rife with violations of tax and labor laws, according to a state investigation that found improper activity by 15 construction companies.
Investigators for a state task force on the underground economy found the hotel’s contractors failed to report $1.2 million in wages, deprived the state of nearly $86,000 in taxes, and illegally misclassified 63 employees to avoid spending money on required taxes, insurance, and other benefits.
Comments
this story is a wonderful example of how, if we reduce regulation and promote smaller government, the true pigs of the planet will take advantage of working people. Z
The shift in union presence is also evident in this story. Unfortunately unions became problems themselves, with excessive salaries for union execs, and the well-known assortment of backroom intrigue that goes with unions. But the essence of unions - working people banning together to protect each other from abuses by predatory employers - needs to be reborn.
Sounds like it's time to change the law so that subcontractors who violate wage and hour laws can be exposed and flagged.
This is just another example of what can happen in an unregulated free market. These companies have probably gotten away with it in other states. I'm thankful I live in Massachusetts.
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