Boston Globe investigates contractors using cheap labor

By Flickr user Robinson Film Center

Casey Ross of The Boston Globe exposed a labor issue that may exist in other areas: contractors using labor from church rehabilitation programs. A local hotel project brought in men from a Philadelphia church and paid them $4 a hour, which was less that half the state’s minimum wage, he writes.

Casey says a tip led him to the story, which he spent about six months reporting and writing. Information he received from the state showed the contractor didn’t have workers’ compensation insurance. These documents further revealed the contractor’s date of birth, home address, insurance information and other details that helped Casey dig into his background.

Casey Ross

“It also provided useful investigator notes about the state’s contact with this contractor and how he responded to the inquiries,” Casey says.

The documents and interviews with other contractors who’d worked on the project revealed the connection between the furniture installer and churches in Philadelphia, California and Connecticut, he says.

“Get to know the local officials, regulators, contractors and union officials involved in construction, and periodically check in with them about ongoing projects and issues cropping up on job sites,” Casey says.