February 2, 2011
Union workers want unpaid benefits from New York demolition firm
A local union group has filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against a Syracuse, N.Y., company, alleging the firm failed to pay fringe benefits to employees who completed demolition work at the BayerCrop Science plant in Institute.
By Eric Eyre
The Charleston Gazette
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A local union group has filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against a Syracuse, N.Y., company, alleging the firm failed to pay fringe benefits to employees who completed demolition work at the BayerCrop Science plant in Institute.

Federal Magistrate Mary E. Stanley signed off on a judgment order in August that requires Bianchi to pay $205,000 to the West Virginia Laborers' District Council and its affiliates. The union says it hasn't been paid.

"We're in the process of trying to pursue this money from a New York corporation," said Steven Smith, administrative manager for the West Virginia Laborers' Pension Trust Fund. "They've forgotten to pay their bills. I can't say anything beyond that because we're in litigation."

In May 2009, the state Laborers' District Council filed a federal lawsuit against Bianchi.

The union alleged that Bianchi breached its collective-bargaining agreement because the company didn't pay health and pension benefits to about 40 employees who worked on a 2008-09 demolition project at the Bayer CropScience plant.

Stanley's judgment order lists $119,680 in unpaid employer contributions and employee deductions, $12,500 for legal fees and audit costs, and $72,800 in damages for violating trust fund agreements.

Last week, the union filed a Chapter 7 involuntary bankruptcy petition against Bianchi, hoping to force the company to pay the money.