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LIUNA Takes Action Against Asbestos Specialist Inc. (ASI) Over Delaying Worker Back Pay

Washington, D.C. (February 15, 2018) – Members of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Organizing Coalition demonstrated at an asbestos pre-bid meeting for an upcoming project at the previous site of Water Reed Hospital. This demonstration was in response to ASI’s refusal to pay workers following a judge’s ruling in October 2017.

A Federal Administrative Law Judge agreed with the U.S. Department of Labor that ASI needed to pay back wages and overtime wages to 127 workers who were paid insufficiently for the work they performed on the U.S. General Services (GSA) Headquarters in Washington, DC. ASI was a subcontractor on the project.

“LIUNA’s involvement largely contributed to a favorable ruling for workers on this project” said Steve Lanning, LIUNA Mid-Atlantic Director of Organizing. “I hoped ASI would acknowledge their wrongdoing of the worker misclassification, pay the workers what they deserved, and learn from this.”ASIProtest2918.jpg

However, after the ruling, ASI appealed the judge’s decision. As a result, 127 workers still don’t have access to thousands of dollars in wages rightfully owed to them. Workers feel they have been patient long enough and shouldn’t have to wait any longer to receive their money.

Due to ASI’s failure in understanding the impacts of this delay, LIUNA held a demonstration outside of The Parks at Walter Reed, a project that is currently taking contractor proposals.

LIUNA will pursue additional public action in the form of strikes and pickets at other potential ASI jobsites if ASI continues neglecting their responsibility to workers.

“ASI workers will do what it takes to get their back pay now,” said Felix Rodriguez, LIUNA Local 11 member. By reducing ASI’s chances at projects and costing them money, maybe they will see how the workers feel and finally pay up.”

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The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Mid-Atlantic Region represents more than 40,000 working men and women who work in construction and public service in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and North Carolina.

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