Local 78, Asbestos, Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers v. Termon Construction, Inc.

**Union Wins Big Against Construction Company That Broke Worker Agreement** This case involved a dispute between Local 78, a union representing workers who handle asbestos, lead, and hazardous materials, and Termon Construction, Inc. The union claimed that Termon Construction violated their collective bargaining agreement in several ways: they improperly excluded union members from work, failed to pay required benefit contributions, didn't pay some wages owed to workers, and denied union representatives access to job sites. The court ruled in favor of the union and ordered Termon Construction to pay nearly $940,000 in total damages. The biggest portion—$649,456—compensated union members who were wrongly kept from working on projects. The company also had to pay $153,804 for unpaid benefit contributions, $11,922 in unpaid wages, and $7,394 for blocking union access to worksites. Additional attorney's fees and interest brought the total to $939,515. This ruling matters for workers because it shows that courts will enforce collective bargaining agreements and make employers pay significant penalties when they violate union contracts. It demonstrates that unions can successfully fight back when companies try to exclude union workers or skip required payments.