A sheet-metal workers' union filed a lawsuit last week against the contracting company responsible for the Shively Hall renovation project, alleging that the contractor did not pay workers fair wages.
The Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, Local Union No. 24, filed the lawsuit against Midwest Maintenance, of Piqua, the company Ohio University hired to work on the Shively Hall renovation project that was completed last academic year.
The lawsuit alleges that Midwest Maintenance knowingly underpaid its employees on the project
violating prevailing-wage law and listed sheet-metal workers as roofers, resulting in those employees being paid less. Midwest Maintenance also prepared certified payroll reports ... that did not comply with law according to the suit.
Prevailing-wage law in Ohio applies to construction projects undertaken by public authorities such as OU, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce's website. The Ohio Department of Commerce director determines the prevailing-wage rate.
The sheet-metal workers' union filed a prevailing-wage complaint with the Ohio Department of Commerce director in August, according to the lawsuit. Although the director launched an investigation, no final ruling has been made on the complaint.
The union is ordering that Midwest Maintenance issue back-pay to the affected workers as well as an additional 25 percent of that amount, and pay a penalty of 75 percent of the back-pay amount to the director of commerce, according to the lawsuit. The union is also requesting an order prohibiting Midwest Maintenance from working with any public authority for the construction of a public improvement for one year, according to the lawsuit. The documents did not list the amount of back-pay requested or how much pay workers originally received.
Ohio University is not listed as a party in the lawsuit on the court documents.
Midwest Maintenance could not be reached for comment.
@ThePostCampus
1
News
Pamela Engel
