Thread: AR: Arkansas unions riled up over illegal immigrants

Arkansas unions riled up over illegal immigrants

First Arkansas News
January 25, 2011

A bill imposing penalties against contractors who knowingly hire illegal immigrants is due to go before a state House committee on Wednesday and some Arkansas unions have been asked to come to the state Capitol and show there strong support for it.

The bill at issue is HB 1013, which is sponsored by State Rep. Jim Nickels (D-Sherwood).

The bill, if passed, will allow the state Contractors Licensing Board to impose penalties on contractors who — directly or through a subcontractor — knowingly hire people who are not authorized to work in the United States.

If you’d like to have a look at the two-page bill for yourself, just click this link:

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/ ... HB1013.pdf

The bill should come as little surprise to people who have been paying attention to the state and national political climate.

Illegal immigration has been a hot button issue over the past few years and the unemployment rate in Arkansas in November was 7.9 percent.

It makes absolute sense for the Legislature to pick up an issue that will make more jobs available to Arkansas workers who are here legally.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that union leaders in Arkansas are supporting the bill.

Jess Akers with Arkansas AFL-CIO to members of both that union and others stating the bill will go before the House Committee on State and Governmental Affairs at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Akers, in the email, said she believes the bill will appeal to all Arkansans regardless of political persuasion.

“We feel that this is a bill that both Republicans and Democrats will support and should pass in order to protect Arkansas jobs and workers,â€

GO UNIONS! It's about damn time you started standing up for yourselves and your fellow workers. Better late than never, I suppose.

[quote="American-ized"]Arkansas unions riled up over illegal immigrants

First Arkansas News
January 25, 2011

A bill imposing penalties against contractors who knowingly hire illegal immigrants is due to go before a state House committee on Wednesday and some Arkansas unions have been asked to come to the state Capitol and show there strong support for it.

The bill at issue is HB 1013, which is sponsored by State Rep. Jim Nickels (D-Sherwood).

The bill, if passed, will allow the state Contractors Licensing Board to impose penalties on contractors who — directly or through a subcontractor — knowingly hire people who are not authorized to work in the United States.

If you’d like to have a look at the two-page bill for yourself, just click this link:

http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/ ... HB1013.pdf

The bill should come as little surprise to people who have been paying attention to the state and national political climate.

Illegal immigration has been a hot button issue over the past few years and the unemployment rate in Arkansas in November was 7.9 percent.

It makes absolute sense for the Legislature to pick up an issue that will make more jobs available to Arkansas workers who are here legally.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that union leaders in Arkansas are supporting the bill.

Jess Akers with Arkansas AFL-CIO to members of both that union and others stating the bill will go before the House Committee on State and Governmental Affairs at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.

Akers, in the email, said she believes the bill will appeal to all Arkansans regardless of political persuasion.

“We feel that this is a bill that both Republicans and Democrats will support and should pass in order to protect Arkansas jobs and workers,â€

They need to delete the phrase "knowingly hired " to any illegal on the payroll .

Interesting development since many unions are in the open-borders corner, like the SEIU and Teamsters.

They need to delete the phrase "knowingly hired " to any illegal on the payroll .

I agree. It's obvious that employers know or suspect the person(s) may be illegal.

Originally Posted by busygirl

They need to delete the phrase "knowingly hired " to any illegal on the payroll .

I agree. It's obvious that employers know or suspect the person(s) may be illegal.

That damn phrase allows them to claim "plausible denial" just by saying he showed ID. E-Verify must be used to take that option away.

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

E-Verify must be used to take that option away.

+1

I think - and hope - that Lamar Smith will be going for universal E-Verify.