Thread: Hartsfield-Jackson Faces Accusations Of Undocumented Workers

Hartsfield-Jackson Faces Accusations Of Undocumented Workers

Posted: 8:09 pm EDT April 29, 2010Updated: 9:13 pm EDT April 29, 2010
ATLANTA -- The group Jobs for Georgians said it visited the $1.6 billion Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal project after receiving complaints about undocumented workers and cash payments to laborers.

Federal and state laws mandate that contractors working on public projects run each worker through a program called "E-Verify", which documents the citizenship status of the applicant. Jobs for Georgians official John Ciancia said when members of the group visited the worksite under the guise of looking for work, they found sub-contractors willing to hire workers with only a picture ID. Ciancia said that's not typically enough information to be run through the E-Verify program.

WATCH: Channel 2 Investigates Accusations Of Undocumented Workers At Hartsfield-Jackson

Other contractors told Channel 2 Action News they had been told some sub-contractors bring in workers late at night to work on short-term projects and pay those workers in cash.

The so-called "worker misclassification" means taxes are not being taken out of the pay of many of the workers, placing a larger tax burden on those playing by the rules.

John Kennedy, a spokesman for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, said no one has lodged any formal complaints about undocumented workers at the site. The aviation authority encourages anyone with problems to come forward.

During a Channel 2 Action News investigation into the hiring practices of the airport terminal contractor, a supervisor with the masonry contractor, M + D Masonry, indicated to Channel 2's undercover job applicant that only a picture ID had been required to work on site, but that the company was changing its policy to require "legal paperwork."

WATCH: Channel 2 Uncovers Security Gap At Hartsfield-Jackson

The supervisor told the undercover applicant that if the company's changes went into effect now "he might lose half his work force."

Channel 2's undercover investigation at the work site also found no security on the site of the future International Terminal. The Jobs for Georgians group told Channel 2 it spent two hours wandering the site with no identification or badges. Channel 2's undercover reporter spent an hour at the work site with no one questioning or challenging him. Channel 2 then went in with a regular news camera and microphone and station employees, we wandered about the site for 10 minutes or more before finally being questioned.

Airport officials said the worksite is considered a construction zone, separate and separated from the secure area of the airport. However, a security consultant Channel 2 spoke with said security should start from construction.

Airport officials promised to secure the worksite.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/23313176/detail.html

Atlanta Hartfield Airport received stimulus money for the construction of the new terminal.

Atlanta Airport Receives Federal Money
October 27, 2009 by Paul McParland
Filed under Atlanta News
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ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta InterÂ*naÂ*tional AirÂ*port will receive $34 milÂ*lion from the fedÂ*eral govÂ*ernÂ*ment as part of the stimÂ*uÂ*lus package.

The funds will go to help pay for the new interÂ*naÂ*tional terÂ*miÂ*nal which is expected to cost over $1.3 bilÂ*lion dolÂ*lars. BuildÂ*ing of the new MayÂ*nard HolÂ*brook JackÂ*son Jr. InterÂ*naÂ*tional TerÂ*miÂ*nal began last sumÂ*mer and is expected to be comÂ*pleted in early 2012.

The new interÂ*naÂ*tional terÂ*miÂ*nal is getÂ*ting $14 milÂ*lion from the FAA’s improveÂ*ment proÂ*gram for the addiÂ*tion of a twelve gate facilÂ*ity. Upon comÂ*pleÂ*tion, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson InterÂ*naÂ*tional AirÂ*port will have a 40 gate interÂ*naÂ*tional terÂ*miÂ*nal. In addiÂ*tion, the Atlanta AirÂ*port is also set to receive another $20 milÂ*lion for a bagÂ*gage screenÂ*ing sysÂ*tem from the TransÂ*portaÂ*tion SecuÂ*rity Administration.

http://www.atlantagatoday.com/pmcparlan ... eral-money

These are quick links to the videos for the above story and they are very interesting.

video
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23310999/index.html
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23311849/index.html

We have illegal office cleaners in our State capitol buildings who have badges that allow access to sensitive areas. The Georgia Building Authority has allowed subcontractors to hire them.

Great post! Thanks, jean!

The Georgia Building Authority has allowed subcontractors to hire them.

That is how they get off the hook for hiring illegals. They claim it was the evil subs that did it and they "had not idea or control".

This is not limited to the GA Building Authority, it is the most common scam going.

Related
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-197073.html