Thread: Center says wages not paid in Katrina cleanup

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Center says wages not paid in Katrina cleanup

By Mike Linn
Montgomery Advertiser

More than 1,000 workers who helped clean up New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina were cheated out of wages while working for two U.S. companies, according to a Montgomery civil rights organization.

The Southern Poverty Law Center last week filed collective-action lawsuits in U.S. District Court in New Orleans against two contractors, Belfor USA Group Inc. and LVI Environment Services of New Orleans Inc.

Belfor and LVI failed to pay migrant workers for all or much of their labor, said J.J. Rosenbaum, a lawyer at the center.

"It's outrageous what is happening," she said. "What you see is groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center that are stepping up to try to respond to this crisis."

Belfor will investigate the complaint, said Bob Martens, the contractor's legal director.

"It is absolutely Belfor's policy and our experience that we deal fairly and legally with all of our employees," he said. He declined to comment further.

LVI officials did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The employees of Belfor removed mold, mud and toxic contaminants from flooded buildings, including Tulane Hospital and Tulane University. LVI's workers cleaned public schools in the area.

Rosenbaum declined to list specifically how many workers would be included in the lawsuit, but said SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project has spoken to more than 200 so far.

She criticized the U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for enforcing labor law.

"We obviously can't represent every worker who is having problems, nor should we have to," she said. "When the U.S. Department of Labor does its job, employers know then that the law is going to be enforced and many people begin to comply."

Labor Department spokesman Mike Volpe routed calls to two of his colleagues. David James, another department spokesman, returned a telephone call but said he couldn't comment on wage and hour issues. He said a spokeswoman who could comment was unavailable late Monday, but would call back today.

A company from here, went down to help clean up...from what I gathered at first they were paid, then they weren't...so they came home.

They are not illegals......so let's stop the "ooooh, poor illegal" crap!

My son also worked by putting the blue roofs on. After 6 weeks he was paid $85 and then nothing. He also quit. He was spending $40 - $50 a day driving there and after all that work, no pay. He is an American born and raised IN Louisiana!

Originally Posted by UBGold

My son also worked by putting the blue roofs on. After 6 weeks he was paid $85 and then nothing. He also quit. He was spending $40 - $50 a day driving there and after all that work, no pay. He is an American born and raised IN Louisiana!

That really stinks. This company, he should be putting there Name out on the web so everyone will know who not to work for.