Comptroller Seeks Workers Cheated Out Of Millions In Pay By City Contractors
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The city's comptroller is urging more than 1,000 workers who were cheated out of their wages to come forward.
Comptroller Scott Stringer said Wednesday 1,056 people who worked for contractors that did business with the city are owed a total of more than $3.7 million, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
"I think it's absolutely unacceptable," Stringer said. "It's absolutely outrageous.
"People who work a very long, hard day, day in and day out, week after week, month after month in some very hazardous conditions and getting ripped off."
The workers are owed an average of $3,576 each. Some, however, are owed tens of thousands, including a Queens worker who is due nearly $78,000.
Stringer said the money -- which includes back pay and interest -- will be paid regardless of immigration status.
The comptroller also issued a warning to companies that short-change their workers, saying they would be barred from being awarded city contracts for the next five years.
Anyone who believes they are owed money can call the comptroller's hotline at 212-669-4443 or visit http://comptroller.nyc.gov/prevailingwage.