ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) — An Elmira sheet metal manufacturer is on the hook for just over $161,000 after reaching a deal with New York Attorney General Letitia James. Southerntier Custom Fabricators, Inc. (Southerntier) will pay $148,252.47 to union workers who were denied paid sick leave during the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic.

According to the Attorney General's Office, an investigation found that between September 2020 and April 2022 that the company unlawfully withheld paid sick leave benefits from roughly 200 unionized workers. At the same time, the company gave those same benefits to nonunionized employees.

The investigation was launched after a complaint from a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 112.

The Attorney General's Office said Southerntier later reversed course, but union employees were still left without sick leave benefits for nineteen months.

Along with the money for the workers, Southerntier Custom Fabricators is also on the hook for $13,000 to settle administration fees.

In a statement, Attorney General James said in part, "Every worker deserves equal access to sick leave, especially during a public health crisis. By denying paid sick leave to its unionized workers, Southerntier violated its workers' rights and put their health and safety at risk."

The agreement also allows the Attorney General's Office to take further legal action if the company fails to comply.

WENY News has reached out to the business for comment, but has not received a response back yet.