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Last week, carpenters and community leaders held a rally in Worcester, MA, demanding justice for immigrant workers that were victims of wage theft and retaliation while working for Optiline. The message was clear: city officials must hold contractors accountable and the June 2025 determination that Optiline was ineligible to work on the project needed to be upheld.

As of now, it is unclear whether or not The Michaels Organization and their general contractor DF Pray will follow the City of Worcester’s determination and remove Optiline from the project. If they do NOT remove Optiline, they are at risk of losing all of the $11.3 million dollars in tax relief.

Yesterday, the City responded by reaffirming its June 2025 decision that Optiline’s December 2024 citation from the MA Attorney General’s Office violates the City’s Responsible Development Ordinance, making Optiline ineligible to work on tax-relief projects in Worcester. A superior court judge found that Optiline threatened, intimidated, and retaliated against immigrant wage theft victims who filed a lawsuit to claim unpaid overtime wages.

The original citation found that Optiline violated MA law by retaliating against employees who exercised their rights under the state’s wage and hour laws. The Attorney General determined that Optiline took retaliatory action and issued a civil penalty.

Under Worcester’s Responsible Development Ordinance, contractors found in violation of applicable laws can be deemed ineligible for projects receiving tax relief.

Our voices were heard. The City of Worcester reaffirmed its original determination. Contractors that benefit from taxpayer-funded economic development must follow laws that protect workers. When workers exercise their legal rights, they should not face retaliation. When contractors violate the law, they must be held accountable.

Thank you all who stood in solidarity to protect worker’s rights and thank you to the City of Worcester for upholding its original determination and holding Optiline accountable.

When workers’ rights are under attack, what do we do? STAND UP! FIGHT BACK!