Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Yet another story about immigrant laborers getting shafted while working on the Katrina cleanup -- this one's from The Dallas Morning News (if the link doesn't work, try this):

Melvin Diaz ... and scores of other workers said they toil in an effective suspension of labor rights and employment rules. Some don't get paid. Others aren't given safety equipment. Housing is so short that many sleep in trucks or live in tents in the city's largest park....

"I've worked at companies that don't pay, or those that give checks that can't be cashed. Some have given me bad food, and I had to go to the hospital," said Mr. Diaz, who's on his fourth job after arriving here three months ago as part of a crew to clear debris at a hotel....

Other workers say some employers fail to take safety precautions or provide protective masks, suits and gloves.

Salvador Calderon, a 42-year-old from southern Mexico who last lived in Houston, has a nasty rash over his torso. He can't find a doctor or free clinic and has no transportation.

Mr. Calderon isn't certain if his rash comes from the mold and debris he's handled cleaning houses, where there have been snakes, rats and spoiled food that's made other workers vomit....

His workmate, who goes only by Jose, defends his friend: "They promised us vaccines, and we never got them. We are not so stupid; many of us have made it to the ninth grade." ...


You know what I'm wondering? How come the Minuteman Project isn't here, or some similar group? I'm not saying that the preferred solution of the Minutemen would be the same as mine; I'm just surprised at their absence. You'd think this would be a perfect high-profile location where they could get their message across. Yet I don't see them there. I do see groups protesting undocumented workers in places like Rockland County, New York, and Danbury, Connecticut -- but New Orleans? No sign of them.

Could it be these groups aren't really concerned with keeping illegal immigrants out of America? Could it be that they just want to keep those immigrants out of white suburbs?

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