FALL RIVER - An unknown number of illegal immigrants have been removed from work on the Pleasant View housing development's remodernization project.
Housing Authority Executive Director Thomas Collins Tuesday said the employees of carpentry subcontractor V-Locke Construction were removed from the site after they were verified to be illegal. Collins said he did not know how many employees were removed.
The issue of illegal immigrant workers was raised Monday by organizers of the Carpenters Union Local 1305.
Union organizers Dan Rego and Mike Nelson visited the Herman Street development Monday, Rego said in an interview Tuesday, in an attempt to learn about the working conditions on the project and organize non-unionized employees.
During the visit, Rego said the group learned through talking to two employees, believed to be Brazilian, that undocumented employees were being used.
Rego said as they talked with the two Brazilians, they learned the men were making about $17 less than what they are supposed to earn based on a prevailing wage of $49 an hour.
Rego said during their visit they learned seven illegal immigrants were being employed.
After talking with the site employees, Rego said project managers and a Housing Authority manager were made aware of the situation. They were told at the time the situation would be looked into.
"We have got to bring this to people's attention and we've got to stop this exploitation," Rego said.
In response to the matter, Attorney General's Office Deputy Press Secretary Harry Pierce confirmed the office is reviewing complaints about wage violations.
Collins said he first learned of the issue around noon on Monday and after visiting the site began going over the contract signed with the project's general contracter Paul Rogan.
Collins said he also reviewed Executive Order 481 issued by the state in February that deals with the use of illegal immigrants on state-funded projects, though Collins acknowledged the contract was signed with Paul Rogan in 2006, so the order may not apply to the Pleasant View matter.
He said a response to those matters is being developed in conjunction with Housing Authority attorneys and that a meeting with officials from Paul Rogan is scheduled for today.
Currently in its first phase, 57 units at Pleasant View are being renovated, with essentially only the frame remaining intact. The $16 million project should take between two and three years, with the first phase being finished in January.
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