Skip to main content

Sundt Construction Lacks Accountability

Construction Wage Watch has obtained information regarding Sundt Construction, Inc. (“Sundt”) being accused of issuing improper and inaccurate wage statements to workers who, as a result, filed a class action suit. In April 2021, a federal judge approved a settlement of the suit wherein Sundt agreed to pay the workers an undisclosed amount. (Attachment A - 20210412 - Wirbick v Sundt_Judgment and Order Settlement.pdf)

Construction Wage Watch has also identified multiple instances – listed below – wherein Sundt and their subcontractors were issued Civil Wage and Penalty Assessments (“CWPA”) for which Sundt was jointly and severally liable, as determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”), Division of Labor Standards Enforcement:
  • In April 2017, the DIR issued a Civil Wage and Penalty Assessment against Prime Contractor Sundt and Subcontractor Monetz Glass, Inc. (“Monetz”) for Monetz’s failure to pay the prevailing wage, travel and subsistence on the California State University, East Bay project: Warren Hall Replacement Building. DIR also issued a citation for Monetz’s failure to submit Request for Dispatch of an Apprentice and failure to employ apprentices in compliance with apprentice-to-journeyman ratios. The DIR determined the total amount of wages due was $232,964.05 and total penalties for the violations was $195,595. (Attachment B_CWPA California State Univ East Bay_20170405)

  • In March 2017, the DIR issued a Civil Wage and Penalty Assessment on the San Jose State University Facilities & Development Operations project Campus Village Phase 2 against Prime Contractor Sundt and Subcontractor Green Growth Industries Inc. (“Green Growth”) for Green Growth’s failure to pay the correct prevailing wage. DIR also issued a citation for Green Growth’s failure to pay training funds and failure to notify, dispatch and employ apprentices. The DIR determined the total amount of wages due was $2,812.68 and total penalties for the violations was $3,840. (Attachment C_CWPA San Jose State Univ_20170313)

  • In December 2016, the DIR issued a Civil Wage and Penalty Assessment on the UC Merced Classroom Academic Bldg. Proj. 900290 project against Prime Contractor Sundt and Subcontractor Citadel Premium Design, Inc. (“CPD”) for CPD’s failure to pay the correct prevailing wage, and failure to pay travel time and mileage. The DIR also cited the parties for CPD’s failure to employ apprentices at the minimum ratio for the craft of Tile Finisher and Tile Setter. The DIR determined the total amount of wage due was $5,612.71 and total penalties for the violations was $5,245. (Attachment D_CWPA University of California Merced_20161228)
Sundt as a general or prime contractor, is responsible for ensuring all workers - theirs and those of their subcontractors - are paid prevailing wages. As then DIR Director John C. Duncan stated in 2010, “Prime contractors cannot plead ignorance when their subcontractors fail to follow California's labor law. . . . These requirements are designed to ensure that public money is being spent properly.”1

1Department of Industrial Relations, Press Release, “CA Labor Commissioner Issues $1.5 Million in Penalties to Davis Contractor”, 06/10/2010, 

Related Sundt news story here: “Union Contractors Sound Alarm Over Sundt Construction”