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Posted on Tue, Mar. 07, 2006

Santa Cruz police launch hot line for day laborers to report abuse


Associated Press

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - Day laborers now have a new way to report unscrupulous or abusive employers.

The Santa Cruz Police Department and the Familia Center, a community service agency, launched a hot line Monday for workers who feel they've been cheated or abused. Both agencies have fielded complaints about contractors regularly abusing day laborers.

Callers to the 24-hour automated Spanish language service can register their complaints anonymously, regardless of their immigration status.

Police will check the messages and forward information about problem employers, including license plate and telephone numbers, to the district attorney's office, said Santa Cruz Police Chief Howard Skerry.

"When contractors pay less than agreed-upon wages, or do not pay at all, they violate labor laws and subject honest contractors to unfair competition," said Skerry.

But community organizers concerned about illegal immigration criticized the plan.

"The number of illegal immigrants is exploding, and this will only encourage more to come," said Yeh Ling-Ling, executive director of the Oakland-based Diversity Alliance for a Sustainable America.

The hot line number is (831) 420-5997.