Statement From A.G. Schneiderman On Labor Day

NEW YORK - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman released the following statement today in commemoration of Labor Day.
 
"On this Labor Day, we honor the immense contributions of working men and women to the strength, security and prosperity of our nation. For all Americans, working people have won better wages, ensured safer working conditions, fought discrimination, and secured health and retirement benefits. Their struggle created an economy that works for everyone.
 
After the picnics and parades are over, let us continue to uphold New York's proud tradition of standing up for working people, and protecting those who are struggling in these tough economic times. From vigorously enforcing our state's labor laws using civil and criminal tools to investing to create jobs and get our economy moving, let's ensure that the working men and women of this country are treated with respect, no matter how modest their work or their means."
 
In this past year, Attorney General Schneiderman has vigorously enforced New York's labor laws, taking numerous actions to defend the rights of workers victimized by their employers:
 
In the moving industry, the Attorney General's Office launched a new educational initiative aimed at increasing compliance by reminding moving companies of their obligations under New York State law. Furthermore, the Attorney General has intervened in cases where movers have not been paid properly according to the law, redistributing over $1 million in restitution to cheated employees of Flat Rate Movers and reaching a $450,000 settlement with Shleppers Moving & Storage and IMoveGREEN.
 
In the car wash industry, Attorney General Schneiderman reached an agreement with Lage Car Wash to ensure that 15 employees of their SoHo location would be provided with employment at another location, stopping potential retaliation against workers who previously reported violations.

The Attorney General has also protected laborers illegally underpaid during their work on publicly funded affordable housing projects, reaching a settlement with contractor Procida Construction Corp for $830,000 in back wages. Attorney General Schneiderman also arrested a Bronx affordable housing contractor on felony charges for failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in prevailing wages to his workers.
 
The Attorney General also secured the conviction of the owner of a Brooklyn corn tortilla factory following the death of an employee at his factory. The owner was ordered to pay nearly $450,000 in restitution and received jail time.
 
For more information on efforts by the Attorney General's Office to defend workplace rights, please visit the Labor Bureau's website here.