Polish Workers at Trump Tower: Undocumented Workers in Dangerous Conditions, Then Stiffed
Trump hired contractor William Kaszycki who used approximately 200 undocumented Polish workers to demolish the Bonwit Teller building for below-minimum wages — approximately $4-5 per hour, no overtime. Workers say they were not provided safety equipment for handling asbestos-laden material. When they complained about nonpayment, a foreman told them to 'get back to work or they'll be reported to immigration.' Trump settled a class action suit in 1998.
Record summary
Grade
Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power
Executive actions that exceed constitutional authority, circumvent statutory constraints, or weaponize government institutions for political ends. Scale and definitions
- Status
- Concluded
- Incident date
- Record updated
- Location
- Trump Tower construction site, New York, NY
- Category
- Civil Rights
- Legal posture
- Judicial finding
- War-crime classification
- Enabling conduct
- Verification
- Independently verified
- ICC relevance
- No
- Sources
- 4 cited
- Stable ID
polish-workers-trump-tower-construction- Victims
- Approximately 200 undocumented Polish workers who worked for subminimum wages in dangerous conditions and were not fully paid; workers who were threatened with deportation when they complained
- Alleged responsible parties
- Donald Trump, Real estate developer; owner of the construction project— Trump Organization
- William Kaszycki, Contractor who hired and managed the Polish workers— Kaszycki & Sons Contractors
Key points
- Approximately 200 undocumented Polish workers were employed to demolish the Bonwit Teller building, receiving approximately $4-5 per hour — below minimum wage — with no overtime and no benefits
- Workers were not provided hard hats, masks, or other safety equipment while demolishing asbestos-containing material; several workers reportedly suffered health effects
- When workers complained about unpaid wages, a supervisor told them to 'get back to work or they'll be reported to immigration'
- A federal judge found that Trump had known the workers were undocumented and had colluded with the union local in a scheme to deprive workers of benefits
- Trump simultaneously used the issue of undocumented immigration in public statements while privately benefiting from undocumented labor at cut-rate wages
- The class action lawsuit was settled in 1998 — 18 years after the construction — for an undisclosed amount; Trump acknowledged no wrongdoing
Overview
Trump Tower opened in 1983 as a gleaming symbol of Manhattan luxury real estate. The building was erected in part by approximately 200 undocumented Polish workers who received subminimum wages, no safety equipment, and — when they complained — threats of deportation.
The workers were employed to demolish the Bonwit Teller department store that previously stood on the site. They worked under contractor William Kaszycki and became known as the "Polish Brigade." They were paid approximately $4-5 per hour — below the minimum wage at the time — with no overtime and, frequently, no payment at all. Some weeks they were not paid anything.
Safety Conditions
The demolition involved removing asbestos-containing materials from the Bonwit Teller building. Workers were not provided hard hats, respirators, or other safety equipment standard for asbestos abatement. Several workers reported subsequently developing respiratory problems. The site was hazardous enough that it attracted regulatory attention, but the workers' undocumented status meant complaints could be silenced with a single threat.
The Wage Theft and Deportation Threat
When workers complained about unpaid wages, the foreman's response — confirmed in court testimony — was: "Get back to work or I'll report you to immigration." This threat, using the threat of a legal penalty (deportation) to coerce continued labor, fits the International Labour Organization's definition of forced labor.
Trump's Knowledge
A federal judge in the subsequent civil lawsuit found that Trump knew the workers were undocumented and had colluded with a union local and Kaszycki in a scheme to deprive workers of benefits owed under union contracts. The arrangement benefited Trump directly: cheaper demolition costs reduced his construction budget.
The Irony
Throughout his career and presidential campaign, Trump made the presence of undocumented workers in the United States a central political issue — calling for mass deportation and warning of the dangers of illegal immigration. The Trump Tower construction documented his direct, knowing personal benefit from undocumented labor — labor that was paid below minimum wage, provided no safety equipment, and kept in line through deportation threats.
International law engaged
| Instrument | Provision | What it protects or prohibits |
|---|---|---|
| International Labour Organization Conventions | ILO Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour | Forced labor includes work obtained through threat of legal penalty (deportation) — threatening undocumented workers with immigration enforcement to coerce continued unpaid work |
| International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights | Article 7 | Right to just and favorable conditions of work, including fair wages and safe working conditions |
Update log
-
Updated with settlement of the 18-year lawsuit.
Sequence of events
-
Polish workers hired for demolition
Contractor William Kaszycki hires approximately 200 undocumented Polish workers — who became known as the 'Polish Brigade' — to demolish the Bonwit Teller department store in Manhattan to make way for Trump Tower. Workers are paid approximately $4-5 per hour, with no overtime, no benefits, and in some cases no payment at all.
-
Workers complain about nonpayment; threatened with deportation
When workers complain about not receiving their promised wages, a foreman tells them to 'get back to work or they'll be reported to immigration.' The threat silences complaints.
-
Lawsuit filed
Harry Diduck, a union official, files a class action lawsuit alleging that Trump, Kaszycki, and a union local conspired to deprive the workers of benefits and wages. The suit alleges Trump knew the workers were undocumented.
-
New York Times reports on undocumented workers
The New York Times reports on the 'illegal aliens' who built Trump Tower — one of the most prominent new buildings in Manhattan — while receiving poverty wages and no safety equipment.
-
Federal judge finds Trump colluded
In a ruling in the civil case, a federal judge finds that Trump had colluded with the union local and Kaszycki in a scheme to deprive workers of benefits owed under union contracts. The finding establishes Trump's knowledge of and benefit from the arrangement.
-
Case settled after 18 years
The class action is settled for an undisclosed amount — 18 years after the workers built Trump Tower. Trump acknowledges no wrongdoing. Most of the original Polish workers have dispersed or died; some have never been located to receive their share.
Sources
- Illegal Aliens Tied to Trump Tower — The New York Times
- Trump's history with undocumented workers — The Washington Post
- Illegal Polish workers helped build Trump Tower — Politico
- Lawsuit over Trump Tower construction settled after 18 years — The Associated Press