By Doug Cunningham

Dr. James Parrot of the Fiscal Policy Institute in New York City, says the growing number of employers who turn to illegal, off-the-books construction employment are hurting both workers and taxpayers in general.

[Parrot]: “This large scale illegal employment of workers translates into large scale shifting of construction costs onto taxpayers and union employers.”

Dr. Parrot says a little over half of New York City’s construction sector is unionized. Union construction offers high standards, strong workers compensation coverage for workers who get hurt on the job, and apprentice programs to raise worker skill and productivity.

[Parrot]: “Taxpayers, I think, get a much better value by having a construction industry that has good standards and where prevailing wage really is the norm."