Contractor for schools slapped with 2-year ban

Terry Webster

Friday, Sept. 15, 2000 | 11:48 a.m.

Drywall contractor Jetstream Construction Thursday was banned from working on Clark County School District projects for the next two years by a 4-2 vote of the School Board.

The move came after the disclosure by the Sun of an agreement with the Nevada Labor Commission and Jetstream that ordered the firm to pay six workers a total of $6,300 in back wages.

Board members Shirley Barber, Susan Brager, Larry Mason and Lois Tarkanian said they were ready to make a decision, then voted to disqualify Jetstream.

"I feel we've had enough meetings on this," Barber said. "We've met and met and we need to make a decision. Let's end this."

Brager agreed.

"I don't want to keep rehashing it," she said.

For about one year, the Nevada Carpenters Union and the Las Vegas Interfaith Council for Worker Justice have addressed the School Board about the alleged labor practices of Jetstream. During that time, investigations into the allegations were ongoing.

While testifying before the board, the two groups have said that Hispanic employees were forced to pay between $200 to $280 a week in kickbacks to Jetstream owners or else lose their jobs. The former employees also have spoken at board meetings.

"What's wrong is wrong and this does stink like yesterday's diapers," Mason said.

Jetstream representatives did not attend the meeting. Previously, they have denied the allegations.

Board president Mary Beth Scow and members Ruth Johnson and Sheila Moulton were reluctant to bar Jetstream and asked school attorneys for guidance.

Bill Hoffman, the district's lead attorney, said he will defend whatever position the board takes.

Scow and Johnson said they needed more time to consider the issue because of new information they received a couple of hours before the meeting. They both voted against the measure.

Moulton, who abstained from the vote, said she wants to be financially responsible and not open the school district to legal action.

After the measure passed, Nevada Carpenters Union members were giving each other high fives in the lobby of the Education Center.

Nevada Carpenters Union representatives James Sala and Lori Ashton both said they were pleased by the School Board's firm stand.

"I think this sends a really strong message to other contractors that they need to treat their workers fairly," said Sala, who vowed to continue his fight to have Jetstream barred from other public projects.

Under a policy designed with input from the Carpenters Union and the Interfaith Council, the School Board can qualify general contractors on a yearly basis and selectively disqualify subcontractors. The policy takes into account a firm's history of complying with prevailing wage laws, overtime, minimum wage, discrimination and health and safety laws.

The School Board approved the policy in October 1999.