Sources: Wal - Mart Knew of Illegal Workers (Execs on Tape)

[Noordam]

AP News

October 24, 2003
Sources: Wal - Mart Knew of Illegal Workers
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 8:19 a.m. ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Wal-Mart had direct knowledge of immigration violations involving its cleaning contractors at stores across the country, federal law enforcement sources said.

Federal agents raided Wal Mart's headquarters and 60 of its stores across the nation Thursday, arresting more than 300 illegal workers in an immigration crackdown at the world's biggest retailer.

The workers were members of cleaning crews hired by outside contractors, but federal law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Wal-Mart knew of the violations. They cited recordings of meetings and conversations among Wal-Mart executives, managers and contractors.

``We have seen no evidence of this from the INS, and, if that turns out to be true, we will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials,'' Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said.

...more at article.

What with the "IF " Mona just fucking cooperate NOW

[Superfly]

1. If this had happened in California

Gray Davis would have given them all driver's licenses and people here would be calling it wonderful social reform...

[David__77]

9. Whatever...

I oppose these kind of raids. It doesn't matter if it involves Walmart.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. Employers get fined and investigated in California the same as anywhere

the only difference, is in California, the employer would still be required to pay their illegally procured help so as to discourage employers from hiring undocumented workers just to call the INS a half hour before paychecks are due.

[Superfly]

20. Regardless

hiring illegals to do any work in the US is against the law and equal enforcement should be found across the board. That California initiative would fuck Americans and hiring illegals at Wal-Mart fucks Americans.

And, they aren't "undocumented workers" or whatever fluff term people want to use...they are ILLEGAL ALIENS and they are taking jobs from Americans or LEGAL immigrants.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Complain to the employers who are trying to roll back the sanctions

provisions of the law and if you want to see Americans REALLY fucked, throw out every migrant farmworker tomorrow...I have NEVER in my 22 law career seen an injured WHITE farmworker.

All the California law does is give them a drivers license that they have to pay for and take a test for...I know of NO better way to find someone than with a name address and picture..do you?

Adn I will continue to use the term UNDOCUMENTED...I see no reason to appeal to people's bigotry to address an economic issue.

[Bandit]

23. You must be in Heaven now that Davis is gone and Ah-nold is there

to get all those horrible immigrants. :crazy:

[onestepatatime04]

2. bullshit

i think that its too bad how there are so many illegal immigrants.... and i think its even worse how the asshole americans who hire them pay them as little as possible. i'm sure they were able to record all the managers without probable cause under the patriot act. its bullshit.

[newyawker99]

18. Hi onestepatatime04!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rocktivity]

3. Further proof that all the good jobs are taken

"We have seen no evidence of this from the INS, and, if that turns out to be true, we will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said.

TRANSLATION: "We're guilty as hell, but we're not going to admit it unless they have irrefutable, caught-you-red-handed proof--the recordings notwithstanding." What she should have said, of course, was "We cannot comment on this matter while it is under investigation." But still, you gotta admit it's nice work when you can get it.


rocknation

[VaLabor]

4. anti-union

Walmart is one of the more vicious unionbusting companies in the country (and that is saying A LOT).

The UFCW once organized a unit of butchers in a Walmart. Soon thereafter, Walmart announced the closure of all its meatcutting operations in stores - claiming it was part of a new business plan. It was very clear, however, the closures were meant to stop the UFCW from getting any inroads at Walmart.

A year or two ago, the Supreme Court ruled that it was still illegal to fire even illegal immigrant workers who exercised their rights to organize. However, there would be no remedy for the worker - no right to reinstatement and no right to backpay. So illegal immigrants have become the most easily intimidated workers when it comes to unionbusting.

Whether through outside contractors or not, Walmart has now made clear - it's got no interest in buying American and certainly no interest in employing Americans. We should all sue the company to make it take down all those red-white-and-blue streamers it has everywhere - it's false advertising.

[realFedUp]

5. This is a national story that should be told

These Wal-marts are in the middle of little American towns
usually...would be interesting to get the real story on
who is hired...brought in from other places etc. to do
the work that no one else will do. Small towns are
facing a real crisis because their youth are moving
to the larger cities etc.

[Loonman]

6. Buh-bye, Walmart

A comprehensive boycott of Wal-mart would be cool.

There are plenty other superstores out there.

[tom_paine]

7. Oh, I wouldn't hold my breath to see these Bushevik Capos prosecuted

I would like to be wrong, but three years living in Imperial Amerika has demonstarted the continuing predictablility of Totalitarian Regimes (as Amerika is rapidly moving towards at the top levels, soon to "trickle-down" to us...

[David__77]

8. We must oppose these kind of mass detentions.

This is wrong. We need immediate amnesty for these immigrant working people. I have sympathy for the executives. That's my position.

[VaLabor]

11. LOL

"I have sympathy for the executives."

Me, too. I always feel sorry for executives who knowingly employ people with no rights in order to avoid respecting labor laws and paying fair, living wages. Those poor executives. They can't help themselves.

Maybe we should raise some money for their defense fund. Right here on DU!

[David__77]

13. Oops!

I meant I have NO sympathy for the executives. Oh my...

[Occulus]

17. ka-SNORT

that was an amusing typo....

[Skittles]

10. how are the f***ing wingnuts gonna spin THIS??

pass the popcorn!

[bspence]

12. How were they treated?

That's what I want to know. If these illegal workers (300 workers in 60 stores?? Holy shit! That's 5 per store!) are getting paid next to nothing, then I'm pissed. I don't mind (some) illegals getting jobs here, but Wal-Mart's cutting them checks that they KNOW are too little.

INS can't handle the number of people that want to come into America. We're turning away people that really should be allowed in. The immigrants aren't going about it the right way, but I'm sure they don't feel as if they have any other choice.

[zbdent]

14. Well, that's their slogan - "Always lower wages, er,

prices - always."

[Bushknew]

15. Fine the Mother F#^&*ers

Stop selective enforcement of the law, question is how much should Wal-Mart be fined?

[marzipanni]

25. A $3,000,000.00 fine is expected...

but WalMart makes that amount in SEVEN MINUTES!!! so it won't be a very effective penalty. I just heard this on the evening ABC radio news. The reporter also said the news about WalMart probably won't have much of an effect on WalMart stock trading.
And earlier today they reported that the contractors WalMart hired were paying some of these workers $2.00, that's two dollars per DAY!
(Gee, WalMart, since you pay people as little as you can get away with, what do you do with those huge profits? Build more stores to ruin more small towns?)
Another reason to continue my boycott.

[Occulus]

16. If it were you or me

and a maid or three, we would be jailed. But how do you jail a set of buildings?

GGRRRRR!!!!

[Barad Simith]

22. I like the Roosevelt banner/quote

I'd never heard that quote before. I bleeve it's time to read me some history.

[Nikia]

24. They have recordings?

That means that there was an investigation going on, either that or Walmart is incredibly stupid (No offense to Nixon on that particuliar point.). I am still suprised that the executives and managers actually talked about the workers being illegal. Most legitamate businesses try to ignore the fact that they are hiring illegal workers. "Oh, your green card is missing an expiration date. That means you're a permanent resident, right?"