Catherwood LibraryILR School

Jose Martin Paz Flores, an undocumented worker, reported a workplace injury and as a result, was retaliated against by his employer, Tara Construction. Paz fell from a ladder while working on a drywall taper and the incident was reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA gave Tara Construction a serious citation, which is when an employer knows of or should know of a situation that has a definite chance of causing serious injury or death, as well as a monetary fine of $4,000. A few weeks later, Pedro Pirez, CEO of Tara Construction, contacted police to look into Paz’s identity and consequently, Paz was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Labor Department brought a lawsuit against Tara Construction claiming that Pirez engaged in retaliatory action, violating Section 11 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.