(Encore Boston Harbor)
WORCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A subcontractor working on the new Encore Boston Harbor casino and resort in Everett is crying foul over a pay dispute.
Coughlin Electrical, a Worcester electrical company, claims it is owed $30 million by casino owner Wynn Resorts and the casino's main contractor, Suffolk Construction, for last-minute change order work it performed at the casino before its grand opening last Sunday.
Now, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is monitoring the dispute and looking into the company's claims.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe spoke with Susan Mailman, the fourth-generation owner of Coughlin Electrical.
Mailman said Wynn Resorts and Suffolk Construction only review change orders every 6-8 months, instead of reviewing them each month, as most contractors do.
"It should've been happening all along," Mailman said. "We shouldn't be at the end of the job saying we've got all this work, which they were well aware of, that this change was happening and wasn't getting processed."
She said that's hurting many subcontractors, who are required to proceed with the work and price it later.
"From an economic development perspective in this state, subcontractors that were supposed to have a part of this pie have been hurt on this particular casino," Mailman said. "It's poor business practice."
Encore said it has paid all invoices related to the casino to Suffolk Construction; Suffolk said it is continuing to work directly with subcontractors to resolve any outstanding legitimate issues.
Mailman said other subcontractors are in the same position as her company, and claims they're all getting the same line from Encore and Suffolk.
"Their comments to us are, 'There's not a lot of money, you're gonna have to take less than what you think you're owed, everybody's gonna have to do it, all for one, one for all,' and that's not fair," she said.
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WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports