Gray Says Lawbreakers Should Lose Contracts

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“Amid a packed house at Ward 1’s Townhall meeting Tuesday, presumptive DC Mayor Vince Gray made a bold commitment to construction workers at rebar subcontractor Wings Enterprises,” reports DC Jobs with Justice’s Ruth Castel-Branco. “In response to a question by the Justice at Wings campaign regarding wage violations on the Sheridan Station/Hope VI project, Gray replied that wages are set out as part of a contract, which makes them law, and if a company is breaking the law then they should lose their contract.” According to Castel-Branco, this is not the current practice of District agencies. “Just last week, DC Housing Authority building security prevented Wings strikers from testifying at the jobs subcommittee of the Sheridan Station Hope VI project,” says Castel-Branco. “The strikers had been invited by the subcommittee to participate in the meeting because they have proof that violations are taking place on this tax-payer funded project. It is unacceptable for strikers to be subjected to such humiliation. At best, DCHA is insensitive to worker abuse and at worst, it may be actively attempting to cover up violations. Holding companies with a pattern of violations like Wings accountable is going to be a big job for Mayor Gray.” - photo: at February’s Justice at Wings campaign vigil for striking ironworkers in Foggy Bottom; photo by Adam Wright