If you have VALID "road crews doing yard work" claims that are unpaid, keep records of such non-payments with you at all times...and when told to do the work, refuse. Then, when you're standing tall in front of the man explaining why you refused, produce the documentation of previous non-payment of work performed. Simple as that. I don't let them take advantage of me, and in 10yrs. service, I don't feel like I'm owed a penny that hasn't been payed. If more people stood up for their rights, as per our contracts, we wouldn't have this problem.