Wrap Up

The Losses Keep Mounting

More than $8.4 billion a year is lost to Construction Industry Tax Fraud! Watch the losses climb, from Jan. 1, 2017 to now. 

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WHEN CARPENTERS TAKE ACTION, WE WIN

When it’s time to take action, UBC members always step up to the plate. Here are some recent accomplishments:

2022

Regional councils held more than 200 in-person and virtual events across the United States and Canada in the fight against construction industry tax fraud. It was the largest number of events since the Days of Action campaign was first launched in 2019.

  • A Carpenters Union-sponsored bill passed in the Illinois General Assembly that will hold primary contractors liable for subcontractors’ failure to pay proper wages. 
  • State legislators joined with UBC members during Days of Action events in Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Rhode Island to announce support for new bills combating tax fraud and wage theft.
  • Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced a new enforcement initiative to combat wage theft.
  • State and local elected officials in Austin, Texas, joined a rally with UBC members in support of the campaign against tax fraud. A resolution is being considered by the city council to protect workers victimized by wage theft.
  • Attorneys general from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Rhode Island and California joined carpenters in highlighting the negative impacts of tax fraud and wage theft.
  • Canadian UBC members participated in a nationwide letter-writing campaign to Members of Parliament and educational meetings in each province with bank officials and money managers.
  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a proclamation declaring April 18, 2022, as Construction Industry Tax Fraud Day of Action “to raise awareness of the issue and advocate that we stop tax fraud at all levels of government.”

See the photos below and view the Days of Action video here.

Read the Days of Action blog for a full wrap-up of 2022 events here.

Local 1503 member Amber McCoy with Tina Kotek, former speaker of the Oregon House and candidate for governor.
Standing up in Austin, Texas
Central South EST Jason Engels in Austin
Social Media education by the Carpenters District Council of Ontario
29 provincial legislators attended an online forum hosted by the British Columbia Regional Council.
Standing up at the Iowa statehouse in Des Moines
Ohio public officials participated in events at IKORCC training centers  
Rallying in New York City
New York City carpenters stand up
New York City carpenters stand up
Standing up in Ohio
Handbilling at City Hall in O’Fallon, Missouri 
Standing up in Boston
Standing up at the Massachusetts statehouse in Boston
Standing up in Chicago
On the march in Wisconsin
At the State Capitol in Minnesota
Public officials received certificates from the IKORCC in thanks for their support
Standing up in Portland, Ore.
Conn. Governor Ned Lamont and Congressman John Larson with Local 326 President Chris Bachant
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont
Standing up in Connecticut 
Michigan House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski and Rep. Terry Sabo announce anti-fraud legislation.
Standing up at state capitols in Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin
In Orange County, New York, speaking out, standing up!
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha speaks in Providence 
New York State Assemblyman John McDonald with Local 291 members
Local 443 Millwrights stand up in Pennsylvania
Social Media post by Southern State Millwright regional council
Massachusetts State Senator Sal DiDomenico speak at a statehouse rally
Members meet with Irvine, Calif. Mayor Farrah Khan
Members at the Chula Vista, Calif. City Council
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon at the Southwest Regional Council training center in Whittier
Springtime snow: Standing Up in Calgary, Alberta
North Atlantic States Regional Council EST Joe Byrne at Boston statehouse rally
Standing up at Port Covington, Baltimore
Standing up at Port Covington, Baltimore
Standing up in Jersey City
Eastern Atlantic States EST Bill Sproule and Pennsylvania State Rep. Drew Simpson with UBC members in Harrisburg
Standing up in Seattle
Kansas City City Councilor Kevin O’Neil speaks out on tax fraud
VIDEO: Michigan kids fight fraud
Calif. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez Speaks Out
Standing Up to tax fraud in Glendale, Calif.

Tax Fraud Days of Action 2022 Video

2021

Regional councils held more than 100 in-person and virtual events in the fight against construction industry tax fraud.

  • Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new measures that will help level the playing field for legitimate contractors who bid on state contracts.
  • Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards voiced support for allowing penalties for first-time offenders of the state’s anti-misclassification law.
  • Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced his office is prosecuting the largest criminal prevailing wage theft case in U.S. history against Glenn O. Hawbaker.
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Hamon announced support for legislation making upper-tier contractors liable for wage theft by subcontractors.
  • The Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue agreed to request that a carpenter representative be seated on a federal committee on the underground economy and designate a fraud representative to work with the UBC.
  • San Diego County officials announced new enforcement measures against tax fraud, as well as measures to make it easier for departments to work together on enforcement.

See the photos below and view the Days of Action video here.

Social media post from the Quebec Regional Council of Carpenters
Local 290 members get support from Nassau County, NY, Labor Commissioner John Skinner. 
Car rally flag at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Car rally at VCU
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters members standing up against fraud
Educational events were held for members in many regional councils.
Protesting tax fraud on a Southern California jobsite
The Grit NW podcast in the Pacific Northwest launched a series on wage theft.
Kicking off Days of Action in Newfoundland
Parading in New York City
Public education at City Hall in Brampton, Ont.
Meeting the press in Virginia
Mobile education at Virginia Commonwealth University
Calling out injustice in Virginia
Spreading the word in Richmond, VA
Bannering in New York State
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul speaking against tax fraud
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters EST Gary Perinar
Regional councils reached out on social media.
Member speaks at a City Council virtual meeting in Denver
Standing Up in Des Moines
Members of Local 336, Framingham, MA, taking a stand
North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters members
Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council Representative Raul Castro speaks on fraud in Washington, D.C.
The Central South Regional Council of Carpenters hosted a high-profile webinar featuring Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
UBC General President Doug McCarron blogged about the tax fraud crisis.
Members taking a stand against tax fraud in Washington, D.C.
Local 336 members stand up in Framingham, MA.
North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters Instagram post
NCSRCC Instagram Post
At the State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA
Standing up in Indiana
Standing up in Missouri
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan
Socially distanced event in Pennsylvania
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters President Pete Rodriguez in San Diego
Standing up with Legislators in Columbus, OH
At the Statehouse in Des Moines, IA
City and State officials in Albany, NY
Standing up in Manchester, NH
Standing up in Manitoba
Mobile education in Ontario, Can.
Carpenters District Council of Ontario President Mike Yorke meets the press
At a roundtable discussion with San Diego County officials
Northern California Carpenters Regional Council ad in San Jose Mercury News
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced new anti-fraud measures during a press conference hosted by the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters.
Social media post, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters webinar with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and enforcement officials
Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters “Play Fair” campaign message
Social media education by Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters
Mobile billboard in Miami, FL

Tax Fraud Days of Action 2021 Video

2020

COVID-19 didn’t stop us from continuing the fight against tax fraud in the construction industry:

  • New nationwide study released on tax fraud in the construction industry;
  • New Jersey and Virginia hold contractors responsible for the wages stollen by subcontractors on their projects;
  • Abuse of Nashville construction workers exposed;
  • Missouri Governor creates anti-fraud task force;
  • Pennsylvania establishes an anti-fraud task force; and
  • UBC and Councils object to USDOL rule making it easier to deny workers overtime and minimum wages.

2019

  • Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employee Misclassification;
  • Montana Governor Steve Bullock signed an executive order creating a Task Force on Integrity in Wage Reporting and Employee Classification;
  • Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with UBC District Vice President Jason Rowe;
  • Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel launched a Payroll Fraud Law Enforcement Unit;
  • Over 160 news stories across the continent and an explosion of social media covered tax fraud events;
  • State Attorneys General Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Bob Ferguson of Washington, Brian Frosh of Maryland and Letitia James of New York attended events.

View the video of 2019 Days of Action events and see the photos below

The Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council (KMLRCC) hosted a Day of Action event at its downtown Philadelphia office. Participating were (lef t to right) General Building Contractors Association President Ben Connors; UBC General Vice President Frank Spencer; Philadelphia 9th District Councilwoman Cherelle Parker; KMLRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer William Sproule;
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney; and Philadelphia Councilman-at-Large Derek Green.
Eastern District Vice President Bill Waterkotte spoke at the Pittsburgh, PA, Days of Action event.
IKORCC EST Todd Pancake, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Midwestern Vice President Mark McGriff at a Day of Action event at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
General Secretary Treasurer Mike Capelli addressed the crowd at the IRS building in Trenton, NJ.
Western District Vice President Randy Thornhill spoke at a Days of Action event in Denver, CO.
Canada Finance Minister Bill Morneau met with UBC Canada Vice President Jason Rowe at a Days of Action event.
UBC Days of Action events got an early start as dawn broke in Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the most easterly point in North America.
EST Derrick Schulte spoke at a Days of Action event in Edmonton, Alberta.
Members from the Eastern Millwright and New England Regional Councils joined forces and marched to the Rhode Island statehouse in Providence, w here Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and State Treasurer Seth Magaziner addressed the crowd.
Hawaii Governor David Inge met with carpenter representatives and proclaimed April 15 the official Tax Fraud Day of Action.
Carpenters demonstrated at City Hall in Columbus, OH.
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh spoke at an event in Baltimore, MD.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro addressed a rally at the State Capitol.
Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington D.C. was the site of a rally.
Carpenters filled the Rotunda at the Pennsylvania statehouse in Harrisburg, where speakers included state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
A Days of Action event in Philadelphia, PA, drew hundreds.
Pittsburgh, PA, Mayor Bill Peduto (left) addressed the crowd at a downtown rally. He was introduced by Eastern District Vice President William Waterkotte, at right.
Informing the public at the Roanoke, VA, post office.
EST Bill Sproule of the Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council spoke at a rally at the IRS building in Trenton, NJ.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel spoke at a Days of Action event in Detroit announcing a new enforcement task force to combat fraud.
Carpenters rallied in Patchogue, NY.
The inflatable Fat Cat was on hand at a demonstration in Springfield, MA.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed an executive order creating a task force on tax fraud at a Days of Action event in Madison.
Carpenters marched on the state capitol in Sacramento, CA, calling for an end to tax fraud.
More than 1,000 UBC members and supporters turned out for a rally on the steps of the James A. Farley Post Office in Manhattan, where New York Atto rney General Letitia James and district attorneys from throughout New York City pledged to combat fraud.
A truck carried the message about tax fraud in Manhattan.
Carpenters in the crowd at the New York City rally.
Carpenters rallied at the Canada Revenue Agency in Scarborough, Ontario.
Pacific Northwest Regional Council members met with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson at a Days of Action event.
Pacific Northwest Regional Council members in Seattle, Olympia and Portland distributed handbills at post offices on April 15.
Southeast Regional Council members talked with Walmart shoppers in Vidalia, GA. The council also held Days of Action events in Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga, TN, as well as Florence, AL and Augusta and Marietta, GA.
No justice no peace
Bringing the anti-fraud message to Austin, TX.
EST Jason Engels of the Central South Regional Council speaks in Austin, TX.
Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters President Pete Rodriguez addresses the audience on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.
Spirited members brought the message to Colorado lawmakers at a rally and press conference: No more tax fraud!
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez addresses carpenters at a rally in Buena Park, CA.
Scenes from Days of Action events around the Southwest Regional Council. At center is EST Dan Langford.
A billboard caught attention along a Kansas highway.
Members in Knoxville educate the public about the issue of Tax Fraud.
Carpenters in Augusta, GA get the message out about Tax Fraud.

Favorite Headlines:

Philadelphia Inquirer 4-3-19
It’s time to hold tax-cheats in construction accountable
https://www.philly.com/opinion/commentary/construction-industry-tax-fraud-20190403.html?outputType=amp&__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar&__twitter_impression=true

Philly Voice 4-9-19
When contractors cheat, we all pay
https://www.phillyvoice.com/when-contractors-cheat-we-all-pay-0599942/

Missouri times 4/10/19
Opinion: Tax Cheats Hurt Taxpayers and Honest Workers
https://themissouritimes.com/59664/opinion-tax-cheats-hurt-taxpayers-and-honest-workers/?fbclid=IwAR0S71yHtg7NGBR-5ltYX1eVBLE3HZuXl0hJvQIjid1JJcd7dzfSh87KKmc

Eagle Tribune (MA) 4/11/19
Carpenters: Industry plagued by tax fraud
https://www.eagletribune.com/news/haverhill/carpenters-industry-plagued-by-tax-fraud/article_ec189ec0-84e4-575b-afbc-5d557bed3749.html

Daily Commercial News (Toronto) 4/12/19
Carpenters Launch Days of Action to Combat Tax Fraud
https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2019/04/carpenters-launch-days-action-combat-tax-fraud

Real Deal (NYC)  4/15/19
Officials at rally say construction tax fraud and fatalities are linked: City saw 3 construction-related deaths last week
https://therealdeal.com/2019/04/15/officials-at-rally-say-construction-tax-fraud-and-fatalities-are-linked/

NBC 5, 4/15/19
Carpenters take to streets to warn about tax fraud: Rallies across New York state aim to educate public
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/carpenters-take-to-streets-to-warn-about-tax-fraud/27155107

Wisconsin Public Radio,  4/15/19
Evers Administration Targets Payroll Fraud with New Task Force: Governor Announces New Initiative on Tax Day
https://www.wpr.org/evers-administration-targets-payroll-fraud-new-task-force

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 4/15/19
Officials and unions urge enforcement of tax laws in construction industry
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/04/15/contractor-tax-fraud-rally-labor-unions-pittsburgh-market-square/stories/201904150098

Uprise RI, 4/16/19
Elected leaders join Carpenters in rally at Sate House to call attention to tax fraud
https://upriseri.com/2019-04-16-tax-fraud/

Maine public radio, 4/20/19
New England Regional Council of Carpenters Call for an End to ‘Rampant Tax Fraud” at Portland Rally
https://www.mainepublic.org/post/new-england-regional-council-carpenters-call-end-rampant-tax-fraud-portland-rally

US News & World Report, 4/22/19
Michigan AG Plans Crackdown on Worker Misclassification: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is establishing a special unit in her office to investigate payroll fraud and the misclassification of workers by “shady” businesses
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/michigan/articles/2019-04-22/ag-nessel-creates-unit-to-target-payroll-tax-fraud?src=usn_tw

Favorite Tweets:

Activist Kim Bobo at Virginia Rally
UBC thank you showing coat to coast
NYC District Council invite to their event

PA Rep Mullery at Harrisburg
Standing up to fraud in Freedom Plaza DC

Canada District VP Rowe meeting with MP Schulte
Eastern Millwrights promotion of events

Virginia Delegate Carroll Foy at Richmond Rally
Virginia rally crowd shot
NJ State Sen. Troy Singleton speaking in Trenton
Colorado carpenters
Great crowd shot NYC
PA Rep Comitta in Harrisburg

Great tweet from ACRC Canada, Days of action start here
Pacific NW promotion tweet