Konover Construction Corporation - Services

Working with KCC

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR MERIT-SHOP PHILOSOPHY

Konover Construction Corporation (KCC) is frequently the target of claims by the Carpenter's Union aimed at damaging our reputation with our clients, our communities and our employees. Although we have provided information that fully addresses these claims and charges on many occasions and in a variety of forums, the union continue to make these erroneous statements.

We hope the information provided below will clarify our position on these claims. We have listed both the claim and our response.

1. Is Konover Construction opposed to working with unions?
Bids on KCC projects are open to all subcontractors, regardless of union or non union affiliation. KCC has completed many projects with union-affiliated contractors and will continue to do so in the future.

2. Does Konover Construction routinely hire unqualified and unskilled subcontractors to work on its projects?
No. Our firm's reputation has been built on the quality of work we deliver to our clients - which is why we choose the best-qualified, skilled subcontractors to work on our projects. Konover Construction has a fair and competitive bidding process and selects the most qualified subcontractors for work on our projects. Every subcontractor who wishes to work on our projects must complete an extensive prequalification questionnaire that addresses their experience, financial capacity, and staff capability to perform the required work. All trade contractors are required to provide our project staff with any required trade certifications or licenses prior to the start of work.

3. Does Konover Construction have a history of poor safety performance on its jobsites?
KCC has an excellent safety record on its project sites, and we are proud of our safety program and record, Our firm has been recognized on numerous occasions over the years by our industry peers for excellence in safety practices and performances. In February 2008, the federal and State of Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) invited KCC to again participate in a two-year Safety Training Alliance. Through this alliance, Konover will work with state and federal agencies to help improve the safety performance in the construction industry through training and education.

4. Are Konover Construction Corporation, Konover Associates, Konover Development Corporation, Konover Properties and Konover South part of the same company or affiliated with one another?
Konover Construction today is a separate, independently owned business entity. Our firm was previously an affiliate of Konover & Associates. Our organizations maintain a professional relationship.

5. Does Konover Construction hire subcontractors who ignore wage and hour policies that violate Department of Labor (DOL) rules and regulations?
KCC strictly adheres to all DOL rules and guidelines and expects the same from subcontractors on our projects. If a subcontractor is found to have violated any DOL rules while working on a KCC project, we will no longer have a relationship with that organization until it has been found to have corrected its practices.

6. Has Konover Construction ever been found guilty of committing unfair labor practices?
No. Charges of this nature leveled against Konover Construction have been unsubstantiated and summarily dismissed by the National Labor Relations Board.

7. Does Konover Construction hire subcontractors using illegal immigrants?
KCC does not and will not knowingly hire subcontractors that hire illegal or unauthorized workers. All subcontractor firms working on our sites must provide us with the state-required documentation to substantiate the resident status of their employees.

Because of state and federal privacy laws, we must rely on the due diligence of our subcontractors in verifying worker status. However, subcontractors found violating these laws will no longer be allowed to bid on KCC projects until they have been found to have corrected this practice.

In addition, KCC has begun a pilot badging program on our project sites. Badging is mandatory on a number of our retail clients' sites, and we are extending this program to other job sites. Based on the program's effectiveness, we will determine whether to implement badging on all KCC worksites

8. Does Konover Construction communicate false and misleading information about serious injuries occurring on its project sites?
KCC fully discloses its safety performance to all applicable agencies, including the Department of Labor. When bidding on projects, KCC provides the requesting organization with all relevant, required and requested information regarding our safety practices. KCC's recent selection as an OSHA Alliance partner validates our commitment to safety.