Elevator Firm's Grounded Over Wage Violations

By ARI PAUL

City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. barred Start Elevator and several other companies from city contract work April 1 for violating state prevailing-wage regulations.

WILLIAM C. THOMPSON Jr.: Start finished with city.

"Start Elevator was entrusted to install Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant elevators in a New York City subway station, but broke the law by underpaying its employees the wages they were owed," Mr. Thompson said in a statement.

'Paying Heavy Price'

The Comptroller continued, "Start Elevator also shortchanged workers it dispatched to other city and state elevator repair contracts. The company thought it could ignore prevailing wage laws. But now, in addition to the monetary consequences, Start Elevator must pay a heavy price by being excluded from bidding on future city and state contracts."

The company and Prude Construction Company will have to pay $257,647 to cover back wages with interest to 23 workers it had underpaid.

Prude had been contracted to make elevators at the West 4th St. subways station ADA-compliant. Start Elevator had been contracted to do work at several locations for the Department of Transportation.

"I applaud both the [Metropolitan Transportation Authority] and the DOT for their work and especially for reaching out to my office with their concerns of possible labor law violations," Mr. Thompson said. "By working together, we can protect workers' rights and ensure that contractors respect prevailing wage laws."