NJDOL Secures Major Settlement in Jersey City Construction Wage Dispute

Concrete Rising LLC agrees to pay over $530,000 in restitution and penalties following labor violations.

JERSEY CITY, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has finalized a significant compliance agreement with Eatontown-based contractor Concrete Rising LLC after discovering numerous labor violations at The Wave, a residential apartment complex under construction in Jersey City. The settlement mandates Concrete Rising to pay $402,397.28 in back wages to 181 affected workers and $127,739.73 in additional fees and penalties.

Following an investigation triggered by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), NJDOL found that Concrete Rising had engaged in various illegal practices including failure to pay overtime, improper deductions from wages, and misclassification of employees. Workers reported being paid in cash without proper deductions and not receiving overtime pay.

As part of the settlement, Concrete Rising will face a three-year debarment from public work projects and is required to implement a reliable timekeeping system across all its operations. Additionally, the company will appoint an independent integrity monitor for a year to oversee compliance with labor laws. Concrete Rising will also revise subcontractor agreements to ensure better oversight and compliance enforcement.

Mike Hellstrom, Vice President and Eastern Region Business Manager for LIUNA, commented, "Sadly, employers have gotten comfortable turning an illicit profit by exploiting disadvantaged workers. Through the enforcement of our state’s labor laws, NJDOL’s dedicated staff have sent a message to bad employers everywhere: that their exploitation will not be tolerated and that New Jersey will protect workers, regardless of their immigration status.”

A stop-work order was initially issued to Concrete Rising in April 2023, and similar sanctions were imposed on Signatura Laboris of Englewood, a subcontractor also implicated in the violations. Both companies were deemed jointly liable for the infractions.

Elmer Martinez Flores, a worker from the site, expressed his relief and gratitude, noting the positive impact of the settlement on his life and emphasizing the support available to workers regardless of their immigration status.

“I want to thank the Department of Labor and LIUNA for helping me reclaim the wages stolen by my employers. My life has changed for the better,” said Elmer Martinez Flores. “I now work as a union member earning good wages. Every worker should know that whatever your immigration status is, you have rights, and the Department of Labor will help you.” 

This landmark settlement reinforces NJDOL's commitment to protecting all workers in New Jersey, ensuring they are paid fairly and treated according to state labor laws.

For further details on workers’ rights and wage regulations in New Jersey, residents can visit myworkrights.nj.gov.