New York Attorney General Letitia James this week announced a $1.4 million settlement with Alba Services, a Manhattan-based demolition contractor accused of underreporting injuries, retaliating against workers who filed claims, and fostering a hostile work environment. The investigation found that hundreds of employees, many of them immigrant workers, were denied fair treatment and pressured to keep quiet about unsafe conditions.
Laborers Local 79, which has long called attention to abuse in the demolition industry, welcomed the settlement. “This is a victory for every worker who’s been told to stay silent about dangerous job sites,” said Local 79 Business Manager Anthony Vita. “It sends a clear message that wage theft, intimidation, and harassment will not be tolerated in New York’s construction industry.”
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