On a residential San Dimas street, a Trump flag waves on a flag pole as two men shake signs at the passing cars. “This licensed contractor does not pay his workers,” their signs read in all capital red letters.
The signs were held by two demolition workers: Nester, who would not provide his last name, and another, who would not provide his name. They claim the couple who own the home also own the construction company that hired them about six months ago to demolish a supermarket on Foothill and Garey in Pomona, but did not pay them.
Nester, a Monrovia resident, says that he was looking for work at a Covina Home Depot when he was approached by a man from the company (who he did not name, but said is the husband of the company’s qualifying individual) and was sub-contracted for the job. He then found others looking for work to assist him.
“They owe me and the guys about $10,000,” Nester said. “They don’t want to pay. It’s bad.”
Nester claims that he had a verbal agreement with the company representative regarding compensation for himself and the other men. He says that, as he was the middle man between the other men and the company, the other men looked to him when the company did not pay.
“I had to do something, so I paid the guys out of my own pocket. It’s the right thing,” Nester said as the other protestor nodded in agreement. “It’s been effecting my family. We were supposed to do something with that money.”
Nester organized some of the workers to protest at the company owners’ home, hoping that they could have a conversation.
“I was trying to be nice, I want them to come out because I have words. Let’s get something done, negotiate it, because I don’t want to go to the next step,” Nester said.
For Nester, the next step is to make a formal complaint against the company to the Contractors State License Board located in Norwalk.
As the wind picked up, Nester looked at the Trump flag.
“I like Trump, to be honest. I like him, but with these kind of people it’s not gonna happen: America being great again,” he said.
It began to sprinkle, but Nester and his friend still remained on the sidewalk to protest. He stared at the manicured lawn and white Range Rover in the driveway.
“Look, they have a nice house and nice cars, but they don’t want to pay us for our work,” he said. “I get pissed off when people do this kind of stuff without honesty and dignity. Like I said, I have nothing against that flag, but this is hard.”
Nester would not provide his last name. The other protestor would not provide his name. An attempt was made to reach the company, but has yet to be answered. It is important to note the qualifying individual and license number on Nester’s sign are not for the company name on his sign. In a search of the license number on the Contractor State License Board’s website, the number is attached to two companies, one of which bares a similar name to the one listed on Nester’s sign. However, the license number and qualifying individual on his sign are, in fact, correct, according to Nester.
Natasha Brennan 