Hot Sheet May 2019

We Stood Up, We Took Action! Election Consequences and Results When it’s time to take action, UBC members The bad: The USDOL issued a harm- always step up to the plate. The Days of Ac- ful opinion letter spelling out how tion 2019 campaign was no exception. companies can classify app- The member response was tremendous dur- dispatched gig workers as independ- ing Tax Fraud Days of Action, centered ent contractors. The opinion letter around April 15, when regional councils held was probably sought by Handy, an events across the U.S. and Canada to educate app-gig company that dispatches handyperson construction workers. the public and urge policymakers to combat the epidemic of Construction In- dustry Tax Fraud. A bill signed into law by Kentucky Thousands of UBC members visited state houses, rallied, spoke at educational Governor Matt Bevin bans project forums, and handed out flyers at post offices and other public places. labor agreements in the sate. Bevin is up for re-election in 2019. UBC members carried the message that it’s time for fairness—for workers, legitimate contractors and the taxpaying public. No more free rides for The good: New Mexico Governor cheating contractors and the industry players who look the other way. Michelle Grisham and Illinois Gov- ernor Jay Pritzker signed into law Union Carpenters took a stand against tax fraud and here is what was accom- legislation that prohibits counites plished: and municipalities from enacting Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order cre- right-to-work ordinances.

ating the Governor’s Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employ- Minnesota Attorney General Keith ee Misclassification; Ellison penned an op-ed on the epi- Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed an executive order cre- demic of wage theft. He cited in the ating a Task Force on Integrity in Wage Reporting and Employ- article a construction worker who ee Classification; lost $1,000 a year to wage theft. He plans to start a unit to enforce wage Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with UBC District and other state employment laws. Vice President Jason Rowe; In Colorado a bill making wage theft Michigan Attorney General launched a Payroll Fraud and labor trafficking a felony re- Law Enforcement Unit; ceived bi-partisan support in the Over 160 news stories across the continent and an explosion of state house and senate. The bill social media covered tax fraud events; was supported by and Boulder State Attorneys General of , Bob Fergu- County District Attorney Mike son of Washington, of and Leticia Dougherty. Governor Jared Polis is James of New York attended events. expected to sign the bill into law. This isn’t the end of it. We will not give up! (Go here to view a highlight reel). Follow. Like. Subscribe Facebook.com/stoptaxfraud Mass AG Assess Construction Companies Over $2.7 Million Twitter.com/stoptaxfraud Massachusetts Attorney General has an ongoing effort to end wage theft in the state’s construction industry. In 2018 her office issued 165 YouTube.com/stoptaxfraud civil citations against 66 construction contractors. The citations included fail- Text FRAUD to 91990 ure to pay wages, overtime, the prevailing rate, filing false certified payrolls Got News? Send it to and retaliation. Restitution and fines topped $2.7 million. [email protected]

Hot Sheet Douglas J. McCarron, General President StopTaxFraud.net