Another Complaint Filed Against LISD Contractors

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. October 12, 1990

Another complaint has been filed involving alleged wage violations on construction projects contracted out by the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD). A contractor named in the complaint, however, said he had no knowledge of the complaints filed by attorney Steve McIntyre on behalf of anonymous workers.

The complaint to the U.S. Department of Labor alleges that Jerry Velasquez, a painting subcontractor of Wardroup and Associates Inc., failed to pay a worker the prevailing wage and overtime wages stipulated in LISD bid specifications.

McIntyre is seeking double the back wages due workers who performed work at Bayless and Maedgen elementary schools for what he called “willful and intentional violation of federal law and established LISD wage rates.”

Wardoup & Associates won an contract for $914,170 worth of construction work at the two schools.

LISD bond project manager Byron Martin, who has discussed the complaint with Velasquez, said, “I believe its going to be resolved.”

Velasquez’s telephone number is not listed, and he could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Wardroup President Denis Wardroup said he understood that Velasquez had taken care of the problem a week ago.

News of the complaint filed against his company was a total surprise, he said. “I don’t know what the deal is. Our name will be all over it, and I don’t know what for.”

The complaint is the second to be filed by McIntyre.

Last week, a complaint was filed against Horizon Builders of Dallas for allegedly failing to pay overtime and prevailing wages for work done at Jackson and Posey elementary schools.

Tom Pelt, division manager of Horizon Builders, has said the wage issue has been settled. Workers, he said, picked up rate adjustment checks and signed releases that they had received their full earnings.

LISD officials said they were withholding final payment to Horizon amounting to more than $100,000 pending solution of the problem.

Meanwhile, work at Jackson and Posey elementary schools is being completed by workers employed by a bonding company, Martin said, noting that Horizon Builders has filed for bankruptcy.