The U.S. Department of Labor sided with two workers in Houston, Texas, after they raised asbestos concerns and were fired. Now, two Houston-based construction companies, Rise Construction LLC and Niko Group LLC, must pay more than $200,000 in back wages and reinstate the employment of the two workers.
The companies’ owners are Jivar Foty and Jessica Foty.
Hurricane Beryl hit southeast Texas in July 2024 as a category 1 storm, causing damage to buildings in and around Houston. Any buildings constructed during the 20th century likely contain asbestos, which is a natural mineral that can add durability to buildings, automobiles, and more.
Asbestos is also capable of causing cancer. When disturbed, sharp fibers break apart and float in the air. Workers or residents can inhale the fibers and develop cancer or other diseases. Mesothelioma, a fast-spreading and deadly type of cancer, is notoriously linked to asbestos exposure.
Construction work on a hotel in Houston led to two workers raising concerns about the handling and disposal of asbestos on the job site. This allegedly led to a retaliatory firing from the companies they worked for, which is against the law.
The workers believe the companies fired them after raising concerns to the companies’ owners about the lack of staff training, certification training for handling asbestos, and personal protective equipment for working with asbestos. They also flagged that the...
The Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28 and the resulting retaliatory strikes from Tehran saw the outbreak of the world’s newest war last weekend. On the war’s first day, Iran...