Thread: 1500 Migrants With No Papers to be Released from Company

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090903/us_ ... l_job_cuts

(Article for Post above)

American Apparel to sack migrants with no papers: report

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090903/us_ ... l_job_cuts

Reuters) – American Apparel Inc will dismiss 1,500 factory workers who could not prove their U.S. immigration status or rectify problems with their employment records, the Los Angeles Times said on Thursday.

The job cuts come two months after the clothing manufacturer and retailer said a U.S. government inspection revealed that it had about 1,600 workers who did not appear to be authorized to work in the country, according to the paper.

"There are approximately 1,500 workers facing termination during the month of September," the paper quoted Peter Schey, a lawyer for American Apparel, as saying.

The paper quoted American Apparel Chief Executive Dov Charney as telling the affected employees in a letter that they would be "given priority treatment" for positions as soon as they get their immigration papers in order.

American Apparel could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters.

(Reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore, editing by Will Waterman)

One Baby Step at a time.

That's 1500 jobs that American citizens WILL do!

Quote:
"The paper quoted American Apparel Chief Executive Dov Charney as telling the affected employees in a letter that they would be "given priority treatment" for positions as soon as they get their immigration papers in order."

Reply:
I guess this means as soon as they can buy a new set of forged "immigration papers" and another "U.S. Social Security card".

Or as soon as immigration issues them a green card as they did in the case in Washington state! (Bellingham raid)

American Apparel Sets Layoffs Tied to Probe


By MIRIAM JORDAN

Hip clothing maker American Apparel Inc. will lay off more than a quarter of its factory work force in Los Angeles amid a probe by U.S. immigration authorities -- an early indication of how the Obama administration crackdown on employers of illegal immigrants could play out.

In early July, the company announced that it had been notified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, that 1,600 of it is 5,600 factory employees, who are largely Hispanic immigrants, might be in the U.S. illegally. An American Apparel spokeswoman said that about 1,500 workers would be terminated in coming weeks.

In a letter to employees in English and Spanish, Chief Executive Dov Charney said he was "deeply saddened" that the company has to shed workers who have been at the company for several years.

Mr. Charney, a champion of immigration reform, promised to give the workers priority for jobs when "you are able to get your immigration papers in order."

Virginia Kice, an ICE spokeswoman, declined to comment on the American Apparel dismissals. She said that whenever the agency conducts an audit, "we get back to the company with specific documents about individuals working without employment authorization. It is incumbent upon the employer to determine the appropriate next steps."

On July 1, Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano announced that ICE, a unit of her agency, had begun audits of 652 companies as part of a new strategy to focus immigration enforcement on employers. That number has since grown, according to ICE officials. By specifically targeting employers, the agency is reversing its tactics during the Bush administration, when it relied on high-profile raids at factories. The raids rounded up hundreds of workers but rarely resulted in penalties for the companies.

American Apparel is likely to face thousands of dollars in penalties for hiring workers who weren't eligible to be employed. The government has said fines may exceed $800 per employee.

Companies that employ low-skilled workers in agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality have been bracing for the crackdown, saying they have no way to ascertain whether the identification presented by workers to secure jobs is authentic.

As of Sept. 8, all federal contractors will need to use an electronic system known as E-verify to determine the employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. Critics say the system is imperfect and encourages racial profiling.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125201213087984483.html

Originally Posted by Texas2step

Quote:
"The paper quoted American Apparel Chief Executive Dov Charney as telling the affected employees in a letter that they would be "given priority treatment" for positions as soon as they get their immigration papers in order."

Reply:
I guess this means as soon as they can buy a new set of forged "immigration papers" and another "U.S. Social Security card".

You got that right! I hope that this company will use e-verify from now on!

American Apparel says it will lose 1,500 workers over immigration dispute

By The Associated Press, Associated Press

Last update: September 3, 2009 - 7:50 PM

Clothing company American Apparel Inc. said Thursday it is terminating about 1,500 employees at its Los Angeles operations after a government investigation into workers' immigration status.

The federal government has recently shifted its attention in immigration probes to make employers the primary target of immigration raids. In July, Homeland Security released a list of 652 businesses nationwide that will receive audits of their work force.

After an audit of American Apparel's employee records, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement informed the company earlier this summer that documents for about 1,800 current workers — representing about one-third of its Los Angeles-based work force — were either illegally working in the U.S. or potentially illegal to work.

The workers were given 30 to 60 days to produce additional documents proving their eligibility. Of the 1,800 workers identified, 1,600 were deemed to be unauthorized to work. The agency wasn't able to verify the status of 200 others.

American Apparel's founder, Dov Charney, has been an outspoken opponent of U.S. immigration policies. In a letter to employees, Charney said he was "deeply saddened by the fact that many of you will be leaving the company over the next few days and weeks. Many of you have been with me for so many years, and I just cry when I think that so many people will be leaving the company."

He added that when workers are able to "get (their) immigration papers in order" they will be given priority treatment for future positions in the company.

The company previously said it was not found to have willingly hired illegal workers. American Apparel has touted its "sweatshop-free" operation and said it pays some of the highest wages in the industry.

Peter Schey, an attorney working with the company on the audit, said the results showed no wrongdoing by American Apparel. He said the government initially said it intended to impose a fine, but withdrew after correspondence with the company.

http://www.startribune.com/business/57061677.html

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