2015 Omnibus Bill Includes Delay on ‘Cadillac Tax’ So Families with Healthcare in US are Protected for Now

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Members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and participants in other employer sponsored health care plans in the U.S. can rest a little easier now that implementation of the “Cadillac tax” on those benefits has been delayed until 2020. This provision was included in the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill that was signed into law by President Obama. The House of Representatives passed the bill on a 316-113 vote, while the U.S. Senate passed it 65-33.

 
It is hoped that this delay in implementing the Cadillac tax, which would impose a 40% excise tax on the portion of group health plan premiums that exceed $10,200 for single coverage and $27,500 for family coverage, will lead to a full repeal down the road.
 
“When people take a closer look at the so-called Cadillac tax, they see how unfair it is for employers and employees,” said UBC General President Douglas J. McCarron. “We have been working hard with law makers and this two-year delay helps us on our way to a full repeal.”
 
Read this article here.

EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General’s office recovers nearly $5.7M in owed pay for New York low-wage workers

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ALBANY — State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office recovered nearly $5.7 million in owed pay and damages for more than 3,300 low-wage workers since last Labor Day, the Daily News has learned.

The recoveries are included in a third annual Labor Day report Schneiderman’s office is set to release Monday.

The recovered wages by Schneiderman’s Labor Bureau went to fast-food employees, home health aides, taxi drivers, restaurant employees and construction workers.

“As Attorney General, I remain steadfastly committed to ensuring that workers are paid for the work they do, that their pay lifts them out of poverty, and that undue obstacles aren’t placed in their path to job security and economic advancement,” Schneiderman said.

Read the full article here.

EXCLUSIVE: Attorney General’s office recovers nearly $5.7M in owed pay for New York low-wage workers

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ALBANY — State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office recovered nearly $5.7 million in owed pay and damages for more than 3,300 low-wage workers since last Labor Day, the Daily News has learned.

The recoveries are included in a third annual Labor Day report Schneiderman’s office is set to release Monday.

The recovered wages by Schneiderman’s Labor Bureau went to fast-food employees, home health aides, taxi drivers, restaurant employees and construction workers.

“As Attorney General, I remain steadfastly committed to ensuring that workers are paid for the work they do, that their pay lifts them out of poverty, and that undue obstacles aren’t placed in their path to job security and economic advancement,” Schneiderman said.

Read the full article here.

Ashland contractor cited $117K over police station project wages

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SAM BONACCI
 

 

Ashland subcontractor On-Time Construction Services, Inc. and its owner Jonatas Vicente De Brito Barcelos have been cited $117,082 in restitution and penalties for intentionally violating the Massachusetts prevailing wage law and failing to submit true and accurate payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Monday.

The allegations stem from a project at the Acushnet Police Station for which On-Time was a subcontractor, according to a release from the AG’s office that began an investigation last July into the situation.

The investigation revealed that at various times between March and August of last year, On-Time failed to pay three workers the correct prevailing wage rate, according to the AG’s office. One worker was not paid any wages until after the investigation commenced. On-Time also certified on a weekly basis to the awarding authority that its workers were paid the prevailing wage rate even though they were not. Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage, according to the AG’s office.

Since the investigation began, On-Time has paid $78,987 in restitution to the employees.

Click here for the full article. 

Ashland contractor cited $117K over police station project wages

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SAM BONACCI
 

 

Ashland subcontractor On-Time Construction Services, Inc. and its owner Jonatas Vicente De Brito Barcelos have been cited $117,082 in restitution and penalties for intentionally violating the Massachusetts prevailing wage law and failing to submit true and accurate payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced Monday.

The allegations stem from a project at the Acushnet Police Station for which On-Time was a subcontractor, according to a release from the AG’s office that began an investigation last July into the situation.

The investigation revealed that at various times between March and August of last year, On-Time failed to pay three workers the correct prevailing wage rate, according to the AG’s office. One worker was not paid any wages until after the investigation commenced. On-Time also certified on a weekly basis to the awarding authority that its workers were paid the prevailing wage rate even though they were not. Under the Massachusetts Prevailing Wage Law, contractors and subcontractors engaged in public construction projects must pay their employees a special minimum wage, according to the AG’s office.

Since the investigation began, On-Time has paid $78,987 in restitution to the employees.

Click here for the full article. 

GETTING GOLDEN RECOGNITION

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Allan Bramlett was recently recognized with a gold card for 50 years of membership and service to the Brotherhood of Carpenters, Muncie Carpenters Local 1016. That service area includes Henry County.

Local Rep. Roy Loveless was in town recently to congratulate Bramlett on the milestone. The recognition was anything but routine for Loveless. “Allan’s been a mentor to numerous people,” said Loveless, adding that Bramlett got him his first job. “He gave me my start. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

A New Castle resident since 2001, Bramlett continues to be involved in the community. He has an extensive list of memberships and service work in Delaware County in carpenters’ related organizations as well as business and community organizations.

At 75, his Henry County involvements include Board member of the Henry County Visitors Bureau, board member of Henry County Economic Development Corp., Vice Chair of Henry County Democrat Central Committee and Treasurer of Henry County Democrat Club.

He was a journeyman carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in the Muncie area from 1966-75; business representative of United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Eastern Indiana Area, from 1975-98; campaign manager for Congressional Candidate, District 2 Indiana from April through December of 1998; interim director of the Muncie Urban Enterprise Association from 1999-2003 and Building Trades Coordinator for B.E.S.T. through Ball State University, 1999-2003.

As business rep, he had more than 400 members. His task was to secure jobs for those in the nine counties he represented and to place carpenters and negotiate contracts.

“The fulfillment is securing decent working conditions and benefits for those people you represent,” says Bramlett.

He says of his career, “It’s been rewarding. I’ve made a good living, gotten along well with membership and people in general. It’s rewarding to secure jobs for people.”

When he hired in, Bramlett’s hourly salary was $3.15 in 1966. In 1998 when he retired, a journeyman’s wage was $19 an hour.

Bramlett is married to Betty J. Bramlett and they have four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife is a Henry County native.

GETTING GOLDEN RECOGNITION

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Allan Bramlett was recently recognized with a gold card for 50 years of membership and service to the Brotherhood of Carpenters, Muncie Carpenters Local 1016. That service area includes Henry County.

Local Rep. Roy Loveless was in town recently to congratulate Bramlett on the milestone. The recognition was anything but routine for Loveless. “Allan’s been a mentor to numerous people,” said Loveless, adding that Bramlett got him his first job. “He gave me my start. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

A New Castle resident since 2001, Bramlett continues to be involved in the community. He has an extensive list of memberships and service work in Delaware County in carpenters’ related organizations as well as business and community organizations.

At 75, his Henry County involvements include Board member of the Henry County Visitors Bureau, board member of Henry County Economic Development Corp., Vice Chair of Henry County Democrat Central Committee and Treasurer of Henry County Democrat Club.

He was a journeyman carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in the Muncie area from 1966-75; business representative of United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Eastern Indiana Area, from 1975-98; campaign manager for Congressional Candidate, District 2 Indiana from April through December of 1998; interim director of the Muncie Urban Enterprise Association from 1999-2003 and Building Trades Coordinator for B.E.S.T. through Ball State University, 1999-2003.

As business rep, he had more than 400 members. His task was to secure jobs for those in the nine counties he represented and to place carpenters and negotiate contracts.

“The fulfillment is securing decent working conditions and benefits for those people you represent,” says Bramlett.

He says of his career, “It’s been rewarding. I’ve made a good living, gotten along well with membership and people in general. It’s rewarding to secure jobs for people.”

When he hired in, Bramlett’s hourly salary was $3.15 in 1966. In 1998 when he retired, a journeyman’s wage was $19 an hour.

Bramlett is married to Betty J. Bramlett and they have four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife is a Henry County native.

Ludlow contractor fined for not paying employees prevailing wage

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By Published:   Updated: 

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LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Tuesday that a Ludlow contractor has agreed to pay more than $27,000 in restitution and penalties for violating the Massachusetts prevailing wage law.

SSR Construction, Inc. and its owner Peter Slivka accepted two civil citations and agreed to pay $27,387.20 in restitution and penalties to resolve allegations that they were not paying their workers the required prevailing wage rate and failed to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the awarding authority on a weekly basis.

“Contractors working on public projects must pay their workers a fair wage,” said Attorney General Healey. “The prevailing wage law protects workers and we will continue to enforce the law and hold accountable companies who fail to adequately compensate their workers.”

The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division started investigating Slivka and SSR Construction in January of 2014 after receiving a complaint that they were not paying their workers the required prevailing wage rate. During their investigation, they found that between September 4, 2013 and December 6, 2013 SSR Construction performed work on a project to renovate the City Hall in Westfield and failed to pay its workers the correct prevailing wage rate. It also didn’t submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the awarding authority on a weekly basis.

Through the settlement with the Attorney General’s Office, four employees will receive restitution payments.

Ludlow contractor fined for not paying employees prevailing wage

/0 Comments/in /by

By Published:   Updated: 

NC_cashpile_mezzn[1]

LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) – Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Tuesday that a Ludlow contractor has agreed to pay more than $27,000 in restitution and penalties for violating the Massachusetts prevailing wage law.

SSR Construction, Inc. and its owner Peter Slivka accepted two civil citations and agreed to pay $27,387.20 in restitution and penalties to resolve allegations that they were not paying their workers the required prevailing wage rate and failed to submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the awarding authority on a weekly basis.

“Contractors working on public projects must pay their workers a fair wage,” said Attorney General Healey. “The prevailing wage law protects workers and we will continue to enforce the law and hold accountable companies who fail to adequately compensate their workers.”

The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division started investigating Slivka and SSR Construction in January of 2014 after receiving a complaint that they were not paying their workers the required prevailing wage rate. During their investigation, they found that between September 4, 2013 and December 6, 2013 SSR Construction performed work on a project to renovate the City Hall in Westfield and failed to pay its workers the correct prevailing wage rate. It also didn’t submit true and accurate certified payroll records to the awarding authority on a weekly basis.

Through the settlement with the Attorney General’s Office, four employees will receive restitution payments.

Here are 100+ brands that are 100% made in the USA

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When you buy American, you help to keep local businesses strong and support domestic job growth at the same time. These 100+ brands and stores are 100% made in the USA.

Here are 100+ brands that are 100% made in the USA