A Seattle tunnel subcontractor will pay more than $370,000 in back wages after underpaying workers on the project.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries determined that Glacier Northwest Inc. failed to meet prevailing wage requirements, paying workers at least $18 per hour less than required by law.
The L&I found that 46 employees, who operated heavy machinery such as cranes, dump trucks, and excavators, were paid $27.69 to $31.34 per hour instead of the required $49.48 per hour. The company must compensate affected workers, some of whom were owed more than $30,000, by July 31.
Glacier Northwest contracted for roughly $28 million to transport 2.2 million tons of dirt excavated by the tunnel-boring machine Bertha between 2012 and 2017.
A 2018 compliant from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 led L&1 to issue a violation notice, sparking years of litigation. The state Court of Appeals ultimately upheld the determination that the work fell under prevailing wage laws.
L&I and Glacier Northwest reached a legally binding resolution on Dec. 30, 2024.
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