As workplace raids increase and as low-wage work becomes even more insecure and tenuous, the federal government is intentionally and systematically breaking its bond with low-wage workers.
No longer a protector and enforcer of workers’ rights and workplace standards — and ensuring that hard work results in fair pay — the federal government is instead scapegoating workers to score political points and to further benefit business elites who seek cheap labor and workers too scared to complain and ask questions.
Within this environment, wage theft flourishes. In Massachusetts alone, an estimated $700 million is stolen from workers every year. This affects workers across industries, but particularly in construction.
Routinely in construction, workers are hired and paid cash wages, and classified as independent contractors to bypass paying payroll taxes and worker’s compensation insurance. Too frequently, workers are not paid for overtime and sometimes not paid at all for hours worked. Unscrupulous contractors count on workers not speaking up for their rights and count on the chances of government detection being low.
At a time when the federal government is walking away from enforcing wage standards, we applaud Easthampton City Council and Easthampton’s mayor for considering a municipal wage theft ordinance that would ensure construction projects paid for with public dollars do not go to contractors with a history of engaging in wage theft.
Councilor Owen Zaret has introduced this legislation, which is similar to bills passed in Northampton, Springfield, Worcester and other communities. It is refreshing and reassuring to have municipal government stepping in and ensuring workers are properly paid on projects supported by taxpayer dollars.
This ordinance protects low-wage workers from working without being paid. It also protects small businesses. Currently, contractors that play by the rules, that pay their employees properly, pay payroll taxes, and provide workers compensation and overtime when warranted, are being undercut by businesses that cheat.
It’s time to protect workers and level the playing field for responsible contractors.
Lisa Clauson
Northampton
Lydia Wood
South Deerfield
Clauson is director of strategic partnerships of the Carpenters Labor Management Program. Wood is a field organizer for the Western Mass Area Labor Federation.