Sheepshead Contractor Accused of Exploiting Workers


by on Dec 4th, 2009
Beys Specialty Inc Contractors in Sheepshead Bay

Beys Specialty in Sheepshead Bay is accused of underpaying workers on a federal contract

Union protesters from Local 79 appeared this morning at the storefront of Sheepshead Bay contractor Beys Specialty with their ubiquitous inflatable rat. During a phone interview with Sheepshead Bites, police arrived on scene at the business owner’s behest.

The business, Beys Specialty Inc., located at 2520 Coney Island Avenue, is accused by the union of illegally exploiting workers on a federal courthouse project in downtown Brooklyn.

As we spoke to a picketer over the phone, police arrived and the owner of Beys Specialty could be heard telling officers that the protesters were making too much noise, blocking the business’ driveway, and banging on the windows of parked cars.

While the officer spoke, the picketers began blowing on whistles and shouting, “Every day! Monday, Tuesday, everyday!” to imply they wouldn’t leave the site.

Before police arrived, the group shouted, “Shame on you!” at the building’s facade.

Beys Specialty received the bid to do construction work on one wing of the second floor and the entire ninth floor of the Kings County Clerk Supreme Court Building at 360 Adams Street, say union representatives.

However, the picketers say Beys Specialty is in violation of the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires that contractors or their subcontractors involved in federal projects are to “pay workers employed directly upon the site of the work no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits paid on projects of a similar character.”

Local 79 members say Beys Specialty is paying below a living wage when workers should be receiving approximately the same amount as union members in the area.

(Tip courtesy of Clare)

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  • Ray Johnson

    If it turns out to be true, then the workers definitely need to get full compensation for their work.

  • Ray Johnson

    If it turns out to be true, then the workers definitely need to get full compensation for their work.

  • Anonymous

    How old is this business that they have a fed contract? Did they win on such a low bid that they couldn’t profit if they paid a comparable wage?
    When did they make their location on Coney Island Ave. and is that building residential also?

  • clare

    How old is this business that they have a fed contract? Did they win on such a low bid that they couldn’t profit if they paid a comparable wage?
    When did they make their location on Coney Island Ave. and is that building residential also?

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

    They have only been at this location for a short time. I assume that they were someplace else before, the building was totally altered before they moved in.

    Before they they were there the building had a commercial use. I was never exactly sure what the previous company did, Something involving business machines.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001/ Lisanne!

    They have only been at this location for a short time. I assume that they were someplace else before, the building was totally altered before they moved in.

    Before they they were there the building had a commercial use. I was never exactly sure what the previous company did, Something involving business machines.

  • Anonymous

    I have mixed emotions on this.
    If companies have to pay comparable wages to non-union workers won’t they just
    hire union?
    I’m not sure if in this job market what is better? To be unemployed?
    Opinion please.

  • clare

    I have mixed emotions on this.
    If companies have to pay comparable wages to non-union workers won’t they just
    hire union?
    I’m not sure if in this job market what is better? To be unemployed?
    Opinion please.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001 Lisanne!

    Unions protect the wages of skilled laborers. Non union laborers may have no skills and their work may prove to be faulty later, resulting in a need to redo and even possibly a safety risk to others.

    Cutting costs means more profits for companies. It also means that they can under bid for contracts.

    There are workers that get $50 a day doing contract work. Then often put in 10 or more hours. Why do they do this? Because oftentimes they lack the papers to get legitimate work, or they have social or other problems that keep them from being able to obtain or hold on to a legal paying job. We can consider their situation unfortunate, but they lack of skills puts all of us at risk.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisanne001/ Lisanne!

    Unions protect the wages of skilled laborers. Non union laborers may have no skills and their work may prove to be faulty later, resulting in a need to redo and even possibly a safety risk to others.

    Cutting costs means more profits for companies. It also means that they can under bid for contracts.

    There are workers that get $50 a day doing contract work. Then often put in 10 or more hours. Why do they do this? Because oftentimes they lack the papers to get legitimate work, or they have social or other problems that keep them from being able to obtain or hold on to a legal paying job. We can consider their situation unfortunate, but they lack of skills puts all of us at risk.

  • Anonymous

    There are plenty of skilled non-union people out there. Just like anything else they should pick employees by performance and reliability then pay what the service is worth.
    My bro worked his way to site foreman for a company. He is in the carpenters union semi-retired. Still oversees job sites.
    I never heard him say his boss had workers on the job who don’t know what they are doing. My Dad also retired from the same job worked side by side with all types and they helped each other out.
    Not everyone who makes it into a union is especially skilled and from what I saw posted some bar stool lunches are a risk also.
    $50 is an insult. Still undecided. ty Lisanne.

  • clare

    There are plenty of skilled non-union people out there. Just like anything else they should pick employees by performance and reliability then pay what the service is worth.
    My bro worked his way to site foreman for a company. He is in the carpenters union semi-retired. Still oversees job sites.
    I never heard him say his boss had workers on the job who don’t know what they are doing. My Dad also retired from the same job worked side by side with all types and they helped each other out.
    Not everyone who makes it into a union is especially skilled and from what I saw posted some bar stool lunches are a risk also.
    $50 is an insult. Still undecided. ty Lisanne.

  • Alex

    Whenever I see “union” in the sentence, I know there is already fraud involved. This is just another form of governmnet idiocy. They should worry more about the current laws on the books instead of making the new silly ones that only raise costs for the taxpayers. Why not crack down on business that pay off the books instead? There are already laws on minimum wage and the business should be able to pay the prevailing wage withough the interference from the government.

  • Alex

    Whenever I see “union” in the sentence, I know there is already fraud involved. This is just another form of governmnet idiocy. They should worry more about the current laws on the books instead of making the new silly ones that only raise costs for the taxpayers. Why not crack down on business that pay off the books instead? There are already laws on minimum wage and the business should be able to pay the prevailing wage withough the interference from the government.