Bed-Stuy building owner under fire for mistreating workers

A Bed-Stuy building owner has been charged with illegally cutting pay and threatening and firing the workers of 1711 Fulton Street, according to a complaint issued by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

According to the complaint, building owner Vertices Holdings LLC – whose principal Abraham Hoffman is also connected to a string of “hip” developments in Brooklyn as the CEO of Bushburg Properties – and building management company Shinda Management Corp. violated federal labor law in scores of instances when they threatened retaliation against labor workers for their union memberships.

The complaint claims that the owners slashed the workers’ benefits and cut their pay in almost half.

“We faced threats, harassment and pay cuts for months because of our union membership and then we were fired,” said Ronnie Coppage, who was a porter at the building for over 40 years before he was fired by the new owner. “We knew that this just wasn’t right. We have the right to stand up for ourselves and our families, and for our good jobs, and we won’t stop until we get justice.”

The workers will join tenants at the address for a rally and march on Thursday, July 30 at 6 p.m.

The NLRB has set a trial date for August 19, when it will prosecute its case against both Vertices and Shinda.

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