IUPAT 82

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and Shakopee Construction Firm Reach Settlement on Benefits Dispute

January 10, 2012 By iupat82 Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 22, 2011

CONTACT:  Terry Nelson, 651-224-5480

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On November 9, 2011, representatives of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 82 and RTL Construction of Shakopee reached a significant settlement on allegations that RTL Construction failed to pay employee benefits according to contract.  RTL President Michael Larson and employee Jeffrey Rensch were also named in the lawsuit.

“We are pleased that we were able to settle this matter for our members without undergoing a lengthy and costly trial,” said Terry Nelson, business manager/secretary-treasurer of the IUPAT District Council 82, one of the unions that represents the RTL employees.  “We look forward to putting this dispute behind us and working with RTL, and the rest of our employer partners, on creating more jobs for the working men and women of Minnesota.”

In November 2009, the IUPAT and the trustees of the organization’s apprenticeship, pension and health care funds filed claims in federal court that RTL Construction, Larson, and Rensch underreported hours worked by RTL’s employees with the intent to pay less in associated fringe benefits.

The agreed-upon public disclosure from the settlement provides: “(a) Defendants deny any and all liability associated with the claims made by the Trustees in this Federal Court Action; (b) the Trustees’ claims, inclusive of attorneys’ fees and costs, were resolved to the Parties’ mutual satisfaction, which included Defendants’ payment of monetary compensation to the Trustees in excess of One Million Dollars; and (c) the Parties look forward to working together in the future.”

IUPAT BMST Terry Nelson is available for further comment and interview. Contact him at 651‐224‐5480.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades represents over 3,500 men and women in the Finishing Trades of drywall finishing, painting, glazing, sign and display in Minnesota and North Dakota. Learn more at www.iupat82.org and www.IUPAT.org.