By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

THE lawyer for Concorde Garment Manufacturing Corp. and L&T Group of Companies has denied the Department of Labor’s findings that included the fraudulent inducement of 48 of 1,406 former employees to sign contracts by hiring them even though the companies knew they were going to close the garment factory in Lower Base.
“There’s been no evidentiary hearing on this labor case yet. These are not proven in court or by a labor hearing officer. We deny all allegations,” attorney Steve Pixley said in a phone interview.
Pixley said Concorde and L&T request an evidentiary hearing on this case.
Labor Hearing Officer Jerry Cody earlier said the evidentiary hearing may be held in early April.
Pixley said he was “surprised” and “disturbed” by the Department of Labor’s “amended determination” that cited Concorde and L&T’s labor violations, which also included conditioning the renewal of contracts upon workers’ payment of recruitment fees of up to 3,800 Chinese RMB or some $489.
“Labor’s first determination did not find any violation and we were found to have complied with all laws. Concorde and L&T cooperated with Labor in the investigation and made sure we paid the wages and portions of recruitment fees to workers and that’s why we’re surprised and disturbed by these new findings. We were made to believe everything was okay,” said Pixley.
Pixley added, “We do not believe there’s any evidence to support these findings.”
Labor issued the amended determination on Jan. 29 in connection with the compliance agency case filed by Labor on behalf of 1,406 former Concorde and L&T employees.
Of the former Concorde employees, 84 filed a separate labor case against their former employer.
The separate case, filed through attorney Joe Hill, is for Concorde’s failure to pay wages and overtime rates, breach of contract, deductions and kickbacks, recruitment and management fees, and for unlawful termination and retaliation by employer.
Concorde, through Pixley, denied most of the allegations made by the 84 former employees.
Pixley said Concorde is informed that attorney Joe Hill received payments from the complainants in return for a promise that they would acquire transfer relief.
“The complaint was filed to enable the complainants to remain in the (CNMI) during the pendency of this administrative matter. In addition, the allegations contained in the complaint lack merit. Concorde believes that this complaint was filed in violation of 80-20.2-140 of the Alien Labor Rules of Practice and Procedure,” said Pixley.
In the four-page response to the 84 former employees’ complaint, Pixley asks the labor hearing officer for an evidentiary hearing on all issues raised by the complainants, an award of attorney fees and costs, sanctions against complainants, and for such other and further relief as this court deems just and proper.
“At all times relevant to this complaint, Concorde acted in good faith and in full compliance with applicable laws,” Pixley added.
On Thursday, some 70 of the remaining 1,406 former Concorde and L&T employees showed up at the continuation of the administrative hearing on this case at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.