NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer paid 33 immigrant workers over $900,000 from a settlement involving North American Iron Works Inc. construction firm for failing to pay prevailing wage. Immigrants working for North American Iron Works who were not union employees were being paid $16 per hour instead of the required $42 per hour plus benefits.<\/p>\n
North American Iron Works contracted with NYC to build numerous schools in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan. An employee of North American brought the issue to the comptroller\u2019s office when he realized that he was being underpaid. When the comptroller\u2019s office investigated the matter, it was discovered that North American was not documenting non-union workers when they submitted requests for funds from the city.<\/p>\n
Comptroller Stringer hopes to spread awareness regarding workers\u2019 legal\u00a0 rights, as a significant amount of workers do not realize when they have a legal claim against their employer. Stringer expressed the comptroller\u2019s office\u2019s intolerance for dishonest employers and has stated he is eager to work with agencies in the city to reach out to workers and encourage them to come forth with their legal claims.<\/p>\n