Union leaders told Harris Health trustees Wednesday that subcontractors on the LBJ Hospital expansion shortchanged crews, alleging roughly $480,000 in missing wages and benefits for more than 170 workers. Workers and their advocates also accused subcontractors of using intimidation and retaliation to shut down complaints, saying many people on the site are too scared to speak up.
Unions Say Hundreds Were Shortchanged on LBJ Job
At a press event held just before the Harris Health Board of Trustees meeting, Gulf Coast labor representatives laid out payroll records and paystubs they say document the shortfalls, pointing to McCorvey Sheet Metal Works LP as a central offender. Organizers said about 130 sheet‑metal workers were misclassified or underpaid and that the total alleged shortfall is roughly $480,000, affecting more than 170 workers citywide, according to Houston Chronicle. Labor groups are urging Harris Health to use its oversight authority to secure back pay for the affected crews.
Workers Say They Were Pressured To Sign Away Claims
Union representatives said some workers were threatened with firing or pushed to sign letters that, they allege, falsely stated those workers had received all wages and benefits owed. Houston Press reported that organizers also named Phoenix Insulation and Chaparral Insulation among the subcontractors accused of shorting pay, and that some glaziers and other tradesmen were reportedly paid in cash without ever receiving insurance cards. Labor leaders said the complaints date back to last fall and that a formal grievance has been filed with the county’s Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity.
Harris Health Promises Audit And Extra Watchdog Checks
Harris Health said it requires contractors and subcontractors on the project to follow prevailing wage rules and that it has brought in a third‑party auditor to review wage‑related claims while the county’s DEEO receives and verifies payroll records. As reported by FOX 26 Houston, Harris Health also noted that about 75 percent of tradespeople on the project live in Harris County and that it will follow statutory requirements as the review moves forward. McCarthy Building Companies remains the project’s general contractor and continues to oversee the subcontractors on site.
Enforcement Tools And Oversight Already In Motion
If investigators confirm wage violations, potential remedies include back‑pay restitution, corrections to certified payroll records and possible debarment from public contracts under prevailing wage rules. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division details how the Davis‑Bacon Act and related laws set local prevailing rates and require certified payrolls on public projects, which sits at the heart of the unions’ complaints; see the U.S. Department of Labor for background. Safety watchdogs are already circling the site too: OSHA records show an open inspection of McCarthy Building Companies tied to the LBJ campus expansion, indicating the project is under multiple official reviews (OSHA).
What Comes Next For Workers And The $2.5 Billion Project
Labor organizers said they plan to keep pressing the Board of Trustees for immediate restitution and for tougher contracting standards that prevent taxpayer‑funded projects from cutting corners on worker pay. The LBJ campus is the marquee project in a voter‑approved $2.5 billion bond package to modernize Harris Health, and Harris Health’s project site states that the replacement campus and hospital are slated to open in the 2028–2029 timeframe, according to Next Level Harris Health. The auditor’s findings and any county or federal enforcement actions will ultimately decide whether the workers who raised alarms are made whole.
