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May. 15, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Report claims Pulte contractors abusive

Religious group cites poor conditions, low pay

By HUBBLE SMITH
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Interfaith Worker Justice members and supporters say a prayer inside Pulte Homes headquarters in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Photo by Marlene Karas/Review-Journal

Poor working conditions prevail for employees of Pulte Homes subcontractors in Las Vegas and Phoenix, according to a report delivered Wednesday by a group of clergymen.

The 17-page report was compiled by religious leaders from Chicago-based Interfaith Worker Justice who discovered a "disturbing pattern of injustice and abuse" among contractors used to build homes for Pulte.

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    • They visited Pulte developments and talked to workers about a number of problems, including unsafe working conditions, nonpayment of overtime, lack of affordable health care and benefits, and wages so low they had to work 60 to 70 hours a week to make ends meet.

    The report was delivered to Pulte's headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., as well as division offices in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

    The Rev. Paul Hansen of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Las Vegas said about 20 people entered Pulte's local office near the Las Vegas Beltway and Durango Drive to deliver the report, only to be told the area president was out of town and there was nobody who could speak for the company.

    "They dropped something off," said Jackie Petroulakis, spokeswoman for Pulte's Phoenix-based Southwest division. "Let's set the record straight. This is an attack on our company by unions trying to organize some of our subcontractors in Arizona and Nevada. We believe they're a front for the AFL-CIO.

    "They're not concerned about quality. They're not concerned about Pulte and Del Webb homeowners or interested buyers. They're only concerned about collecting dues from an industry they walked away from years ago."

    The Interfaith Worker Justice report recommends that Pulte develop and enforce an "ethical contracting policy."

    Pulte's contractors in Las Vegas and Phoenix should increase wages, provide more affordable health insurance, pay overtime to workers as required by law, improve workplace safety practices and respect workers' rights to organize unions, the report said.

    Victor Hugo Rangel, a striking worker at Hutchins Drywall in Henderson, was quoted in the report, which said he was fired after falling from a ladder and hurting his shoulder.

    "When I worked for Hutchins Drywall, I had a boss who was corrupt and did not have any feelings or respect for the workers," Rangel said. "When I went to get my check at the end of the week, I had to give a kickback of $150 to the foreman. When I went to the office to complain, they started threatening that I would lose my job."

    Hansen said he went to a Pulte development in the southeast area of Las Vegas, but he was unable to locate the specific worker to talk about working conditions.

    However, activists who had been employed by these contractors told stories that had a "consistent thread of cutting corners," Hansen said, from changing timecards so as not to pay overtime to being asked to work without safety masks.

    "If people complained, they were told, 'There's plenty of people available where you came from,' " he said.

    Petroulakis said Pulte has repeatedly asked for specific information about the claims but received nothing to date.

    The company has built more than 500,000 homes since 1956 and has consistently been ranked among the top builders in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates.

    Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.

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    Darryl Erby wrote on May 20, 2008 08:59 PM: We are planning on building a Pulte Home in Grand Prairie TX, what information can you share with us about Pulte dealings in this area


    Chuck wrote on May 15, 2008 04:13 PM: Sounds like something spearheaded by someone trying to upset the applecart.
    Builders need to make money, subcontractors need to make money - from what I understand a great deal of the work done on residential building here is done on piecemeal - i.e. so much for the crew for the job, and then they dtermine how to split it, if it means working to cheap - then don't ssign up for the work!!!! Safety?? its just houses, they are up in the air 60 stories!!!!


    Alan wrote on May 15, 2008 03:50 PM: Pulte is responsible for all sub-contractors and their employees. Pulte hired the sub-contractor and pays the sub-contractor so pulte is responsible for all that goes on there property. Employees who accepts a job from these sub-contractors are responsible to make sure they are covered for any injuries on the job and they agreed to their pay before hire. Sub contractors are responsible for their own workers compensation, unemployment and taxes.


    Jason wrote on May 15, 2008 02:32 PM: BTW- Hutchins drywall is an outstanding company that holds their quality at a very high standard. If you own a home that was sheetrocked by them then you are living in a great house. They are an extremly well run company with a great heart for what they do as well as Las Vegas!


    Jason wrote on May 15, 2008 02:26 PM: It is not PULTE'S fault for how their sub-contractors treat their employee's... that being said, i know for a fact that this person listed in the article never worked for Hutchins Drywall and that this article is not 100% true. This organization is being paid by the unions to help them UNETHICALLY force these companies to join the Union!!! If you all only knew the sad truth of this you would understand, this journalist did not do their homework or else they would have found out that this "workers" story is false!


    Will P. wrote on May 15, 2008 01:45 PM: Gee, I wonder why Pulte subs everything out. Could it be the fact that they can say "No see, not me?" As long as they get a monthly lien release from each sub, they could care less how the subs are screwing their workers. Just ask any home-builder superintendent. A long running joke....


    howard wrote on May 15, 2008 01:35 PM: How surpising. Another newspaper writer who acts as a shill for a union shakedown. The reporter is either a union patsy or an idiot. Take your pick. Trash a reputable company and site no facts only second hand accounts from a group with an agenda. Then ambush the company and when knowbody will give you a statement on the spot run the one sided story as is. This couldn't have waited a few day for the reporter to get both sides of the story? I would expect this crap in the Sun but RJ's standards for reporting are really starting to slip.


    br wrote on May 15, 2008 10:28 AM: Builders and their subcontractors are just taking advantage of an already disadvantaged group. Close the boarder and prosecute builders and their subcontractors together.There is simply no arms length business going on here.The only thing Mr. Smith got wrong was he only named one builder.


    What Quality wrote on May 15, 2008 09:19 AM: You get what you pay for....cheap labor/poor workmanship = higher profit for the builder. The general public is easily satisfied with 'less'. If Pulte, or any other builder, conducts business in an ethical manner, I have property for sale in Florida. These poor workers don't have a leg to stand on - especially if they have no papers.


    D- wrote on May 15, 2008 08:35 AM: Unions have nothing to do with the complaint - they are already corupt and in the pockets of the contractors.

    Plumbers Union actually starts apprentice workers at $8 bucks an hour,less than 25 years ago. I agree they should all get paid more as working for the same and less than they did 20 years ago at all levels is just REDICULOUS!


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