The Nassau County District Attorney announced a Brooklyn based contractor, SB Waterproofing inc., has plead guilty to a felony charge for failing to pay prevailing wages to workers at the 2009 U.S. Open. A copy of the DA’s press release may be found here: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/DA/NewsReleases/2009/102609sbwaterproofing.html
Labor News & Articles
NYS Passes Worker Prompt Payment Bill
On September 8, 2009, the Governor signed a bill meant to ensure the prompt payment of wages owed to workers and contractors on private construction projects. Titled “an act to amend the labor law and the general business law, in relation to the prompt payment of employees and contractors engaged in private construction projects,” the… Read more »
401(k) Alert – September 2009
Clients should take notice of new issues facing 401(k) plans. Attached is a memorandum addressing current 401(k) plans that administrators should be aware of: 401(k) Alert Sept 2009 Please feel free to contact one of our attorneys with any questions on this issue at 631-249-6565.
Davis Bacon Act Mandates Apply to All ARRA Projects
Section 1606 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) requires that the Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage standards apply to all federal and federally-assisted construction work funded in whole or in part by the ARRA. On May 29, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (“WHD”) released written guidance to… Read more »
NYS DOL Joint Taskforce on Misclassification Issues Annual Report
The New York State Joint Employment Taskforce on Employee Misclassification has issued its annual report. The Taskforce — created in September 2007 by then Governor Spitzer pursuant to executive Order 17 — is tasked with investigating and enforcing misclassifaction matters in employment. A copy of the report may be viewed here: NYS DOL Misclass Report… Read more »
In re: Halpin: The 2nd Circuit Weighs in on Plan Assets and Fiduciary Liability
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided on May 11, 2009 in the case of In re: Halpin, et al. that contributions an employer owes to a group of multiemployer benefit plans are not plan “assets” and, as such, the employer’s owner is not a fiduciary over these contributions. Therefore, the owner is not… Read more »
Charter Schools Decision
By decision dated April 2, 2009, the New York State Appellate Division, Third Department — New York’s second highest court — overturned a trial court’s finding that Charter Schools are subject to the New York State prevailing wage law. It late 2007, the New York State Department of Labor had issued an opinion that all… Read more »
Important Supreme Court Decision with Collective Bargaining Implications
The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision that could put unions in the position of agreeing to pursue the individual discrimination claims of bargaining unit employees under such statutes as the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disability Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical leave Act, through the… Read more »
Employee Free Choice Act Introduced in Congress
On March 10, 2009, the United States Congress introduced the Employee Free Choice Act. The legislation gives workers the choice of whether to form a union either through majority signup or an NLRB election. The bill would also strengthen penalties for violations against workers who are trying to organize or negotiate a first contract, and… Read more »
Brookhaven Adopts Apprenticeship Requirement for Private Development
The Town of Brookhaven has adopted new section to the Town’s building code requiring that all construction of over 100,000 square feet must be performed by contractors with an apprenticeship training program approved by the New York State Department of Labor. The new building code section, section 16-3.1, may be viewed here: Brookhaven Apprenticeship… Read more »