CT company reportedly exploits workers

Dozens of construction workers are out thousands of dollars in wages and are now suing to get their due. The question is: did a Connecticut company reportedly exploit employees because of their immigration status?

Illegal immigration is a controversial issue to say the least. So why should people care about what allegedly happened to these workers?

Because if a company can pay an illegal immigrant less money for more work, good companies, which follow the rules, are hurt.

They are not your average plaintiffs in a law suit. In fact some, if not many of them, may not even be in the country legally which is why we were asked not to identify them.

One man says he is one of 34-former employees of National Carpentry Contractors who worked on a luxury condominium complex in Stamford.

It's alleged the workers worked up to 70-hours a week with no overtime until their pay stopped altogether.

"They don't know exactly what happened, they just told them they didn't have the money to pay them any longer," one translator said.

"Let's be very clear, these workers were exploited by an employer who perceived them to be undocumented and therefore vulnerable and sought to exploit and prey on fear of retaliation whether deportation or other consequences," Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

Attorney General Blumenthal is supporting the workers in their federal lawsuit, pointing out the law is suppose to protect all people whether they are here legally or not.

And, well aware immigration is a divisive issue, attorneys representing the workers point out:

"There are plenty of honest contractors out there who aren't afraid to comply with Connecticut and Federal law and pay their workers properly for the work they do," Peter Goselin, representing workers, said. "And when they compete against people who break the rules, the way National Carpentry Contractors did, then they loose."

What does the company have to say? Late today John Kirk, owner of the company called News Channel 8 back. He denies mistreating the workers but does acknowledge some are owed money. He says he was put in a tough spot by other contractors who didn't pay him.

Cohn: "You kept making payrolls even though you weren't being paid yourself, and you simply ran out of money."

Another attorney says this case is just the tip of the iceberg and that there are a lot of other cases like this.

And, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says there may be a need for federal investigators to look into this situation.