An Odd CEO to Speak at a Forum About Labor Relations

Rep. John Kline (R-MN) organized an issue forum in January that criticized President Obama for being too supportive of labor unions. The forum was advertised as an event exploring the impact that the administration’s policies are having “on the current labor market and the rights of employees …” But one of the experts invited to speak at this forum was an odd choice.

TPM Muckraker explains why organizers invited Stephen Worth, the CEO of a Pennsylvania construction firm called Worth & Company:

Worth was there to offer the perspective of an ordinary American business owner, frustrated by the administration's alleged bias toward labor unions.

But one can only hope that Worth is not an ordinary business owner:

Last year, according to an order examined by TPM Muckraker, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor found that Worth & Company had violated the state’s Prevailing Wage Act by failing to maintain accurate wage records; by repeatedly employing too many lower-paid apprentices, rather than more highly paid workers; and by paying apprentices less per hour than the prevailing rate due, among other violations. The state found that Worth & Company’s actions "were willful and with a knowing disregard of the rights of its workers.”

In turn, Worth responded by filing legal action against the department. In a legal settlement, he agreed to pay more than $138,000 to the underpaid workers, TPM reports. He also agreed that his firm would not be allowed to receive new state contracts subject to the wage law until November 2010. Under the settlement, Worth did not make any admission of violating the Prevailing Wage Act.