About a week ago I wrote a story about a Fort Stewart contractor's payroll issue. Three of those 170 contracted construction workers who haven't been paid in about a month came to our office this week. They are hard working men trying to provide for their families but can't, through no fault of their own. They are wedged between a rock and a hard place.
One worker said he is having trouble convincing his landlord to hold off on rent until he can resolve his pay situation. Another no longer has the use of his phone because he couldn't pay that bill. Like many average Americans - and there are more of us in this same circumstance today than a few short years ago - they are living hand-to-mouth in a tough economy.
These poor guys are obviously feeling disillusioned, betrayed, disoriented and displaced. They told me they were proud of the work they did, building barracks for soldiers. These laborers felt a sense of purpose; they were providing homes for returning soldiers. Basically, the work they do isn't just their livelihood - they feel they are making a difference in the world. That's all any of us really want to do; make a difference. I hope they are able to recover from this setback, receive the earnings they are owed and are able to move on to another project of value.