MINEOLA, N.Y.—Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman announced on Aug. 2 that the county was
launching a hotline for workers to report county vendors that are failing to pay their employees the county’s “living wage.” The number, (516) 571-WAGE, is available in both English and Spanish. Staff at the comptroller’s office will answer it during business hours, and tips can be submitted anonymously. Companies doing business with the county are required to pay at least $16.41 an hour or $14.27 plus health benefits, except for workers at small child-care services and people under age 18 working summer jobs. In the 10 years since the law went into effect, the comptroller’s office has recovered more than $1 million in pay for workers, Schnirman said. “The comptroller’s announcement today was so very important for the men and women of the various vendors of Nassau County,” John D’Urso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor AFL-CIO and RWDSU Local 338, said. He added that the tip line would enable workers to report underpayment without fearing retribution. Read more
