Polish Workers at Trump Tower: Undocumented Workers in Dangerous Conditions, Then Stiffed

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.