JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Security guards who worked at Welcome To Rockville in April tell Action News Jax they still have not been paid, more than five weeks later.
The contractor who's supposed to pay them is a company Action News Jax has investigated in the past for the same thing.
Would you work this job for free? Dozens of #WelcomeToRockville security guards still haven't been paid, more than five weeks after the #Jacksonville music festival. #ANJaxInvestigates at 6 on CBS47 and FOX30 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/BEHFKAzW7w
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) June 4, 2018
Lou Aragon told Action News Jax he got a bloody nose and a fat lip while working 12 hours a day, catching crowd surfers and keeping festivalgoers safe.
Being a security guard can be a dangerous job for anyone; it’s not a job the 60-year-old would do for free.
“I ain’t got a car right now. And that’s what I was waiting on, that money, to get my car fixed,” Aragon said.
Welcome To Rockville producer Danny Wimmer Presents hired Accurate Event Group to handle security for the festival.
“Bloody nose, fat lip.” Being a security guard at #Jacksonville's #WelcomeToRockville can be a dangerous job for anyone. It's not one that 60-year-old Lou Aragon would do for free. 5+ weeks after the festival, he and dozens of workers are still waiting on paychecks. Watch at 6. pic.twitter.com/kwCtG7JGbr
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) June 4, 2018
“Welcome To Rockville does not directly hire and pay the security staff. The festival hires outside security companies who, in turn, hire, manage and pay the members of the security team. We have paid the security companies in full and would expect that they are properly compensating their staff,” said a Danny Wimmer Presents spokesperson in an email to Action News Jax.
Last week, Accurate Event Group President Gordon Marrin told Action News Jax the checks were mailed on May 23.
On Monday, Marrin said the checks would be cut on Tuesday.
"It’s not fair to promise somebody something and not come through with it." But that's what dozens of #WelcomeToRockville security guards say happened to them. The contractor who owes them money -- 5+ weeks later -- is one I've investigated in the past. #ANJaxInvestigates at 6 pm pic.twitter.com/EfdXB6bq2t
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) June 4, 2018
After Action News Jax pressed Marrin on the conflicting stories, Accurate Event Group CFO Elliot Rosenblatt sent us an email saying, “There were a few dozen associates that were delayed due to paperwork issues, address issues, etc. Those checks will be cut at the end of the day tomorrow and will be sent out Wednesday. All of the Rockville staff will then have been paid in full.”
Aragon is skeptical.
“I’ve talked to people three different times. And every time, it’s a different story,” Aragon said.
Dozens of security guards unpaid, 5+ weeks after #WelcomeToRockville. The contractor who’s supposed to pay them is a company I've investigated in the past for the same thing. Watch CBS47/FOX30 @ActionNewsJax at 6. Not near a TV? Check out my web story: https://t.co/VChAEFPQoB pic.twitter.com/2cTcxyiXbo
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) June 4, 2018
In February, Action News Jax exposed that Accurate Event Group took three months to pay temp workers for the Jacksonville IKEA grand opening.
The same accusations were made against the contractor after an Ohio IKEA grand opening last summer.
Action News Jax asked Danny Wimmer Presents why it continues to contract with Accurate Event Group when the company has a history of not paying workers on time. A spokesperson would not answer our question.
#WelcomeToRockville producer "Danny Wimmer Presents" would not answer my question about why it continues to contract with Accurate Event Group when the company has a history of not paying workers on time. #ANJaxInvestigates at 6 on CBS47/FOX30 @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/K2bxyn91nE
— Jenna Bourne (@jennabourneWTSP) June 4, 2018
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