Lanier bridge builder must pay back wages to workers under federal labor law

BRUNSWICK - The construction company building the new $110 million Sidney Lanier Bridge has been ordered to pay back wages to workers because it paid them less than the prevailing salaries in the area, a violation of federal labor law. <br> <br> Miami-based Recchi-GLF sent letters notifying the employees that the U.S. Department of Labor had said they were due back pay for work on the project. <br> <br> Enrique Espino, managing partner for the company, confirmed the payments but declined to discuss the amounts. <br> <br> Department of Labor spokeswoman Loretta Post also declined to discuss the payments or the number of workers affected because the case is still under investigation. <br> <br> The payments were due because of a violation of the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires workers on federally funded projects be properly classified and paid a rate typically paid for such work in the area. Most violations occur when workers are classified incorrectly and are paid a lower rate than is typical in the area for their work. <br> <br> Union organizer Jimmy Gibbs of Carpenters Local Union 865 said the union helped the workers make their claims against Recchi-GLF. <br> <br> He said carpenters were being paid $12 an hour but the prevailing rate is $18.40 including benefits. <br> <br> Gibbs estimated Recchi-GLF underpaid about 100 workers by at least $300,000. <br> <br> The bridge is expected to be completed later this year.