Carpenters Cry Foul

Three days after the state shut down a painting contractor working at Yale, two union carpenters showed up at the site with a huge sign and a demand.

David Jarvis and Tim Sullivan (pictured), two organizers with the New England Regional Council of Carpenters, stood behind the sign Monday at the corner of High and Elm streets and waved at passing cars.

Are law-breaking contractors working here now? the sign read.

On Friday, the state Department of Labor issued a stop-work order at the renovation of Berkeley College, at 205 Elm St. Inspectors found that HG Painting of New Haven, a subcontractor, did not have payroll records or proof of workers compensation for its workers at the site.

It was one of two stop-work orders issued Friday in town.

Without workers comp, someone who gets hurt can become a burden to society, Sullivan said. And without payroll records, theres no way to ensure that a contractor follows wage laws.

Sullivan called on Yale to act. Wed like to see a strong policy by Yale addressing our concerns, he said. Yale should ensure that all contractors and subcontractors are following all labor laws, he said. Yale never would have tolerated this in the past.

Sullivan said the fault lies with Whiting and Turner, the contractor overseeing the Berkeley College job.

Two Whiting and Turner supervisors at the site declined to comment.

Subtext, Hire us next time or well continue to break your stones. No wonder construction in New England is the most expensive in the country.

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Carpenters Cry Foul