Thread: NC: Roger Carter suspends more than 20 undocumented workers

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Roger Carter suspends more than 20 undocumented workers

July 19,2006
BOB SHILES
STAFF WRITER
More than 20 Roger Carter employees, most Hispanic and union supporters, were suspended without pay Tuesday because they allegedly lack the proper identification to work in the United States.

Joe Faulkner, who does customer service work for Roger Carter, said that the Social Security Administration had informed the company that the names of certain employees and their social security numbers don’t match. He added that the U.S. Immigration Service has also raised concerns about the employees not having documentation proving they can live and work legally in the United States.

“We suspended without pay more than 20 today because they could not produce the documentation,” Faulkner said Tuesday. “They are suspended until they can provide the requested information.”

The dismissed employees and their supporters, however, charge that the company’s action is just another step in punishing those employees who support unionization of the Lenoir County company that for more than 25 years has manufactured modular buildings for offices, health care and school use, as well as for other uses.

On March 17, an election was held to determine if Roger Carter employees wanted to be represented by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. A total of 101 ballots were cast, with a majority of the 86 eligible votes going in favor of the union 45 to 41.

Fifteen votes, which the union contends were cast by company supervisors and not by rank and file employees as required by law, are still being challenged. In addition to the vote challenge, the National Labor Relations Board is investigating union charges of unfair labor practices.

Homer Marmolejo, a union representative, said Tuesday that Roger Carter’s actions against employees has ignited an investigation of numerous safety violations and discrimination charges, including sexual harassment, by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A class action suit is likely, he added, with Roger Carter facing a possible fine of $10,000 for each charge committed upon each employee.

“The union is going to defend the rights of the workers. We will use all of the law available to secure them their rights,” Marmolejo said. “Roger Carter apparently abused workers, lowered the standard of living in the community and embarrassed the community by his behavior.”

At a union sponsored meeting Tuesday, former and current company employees charged that discrimination against workers, especially Hispanics, is common at the company.

“There is a lot of discrimination, especially if you are Hispanic and a woman” said 17-year-old Yani Ortega, who had worked at Roger Carter for about eight months. “People aren’t treated as equals.”

Another female employee, who requested to remain anonymous, said sexual harassment is a daily occurrence. She said that she had complained to management several times about harassment and her concerns were ignored.

Albert Camacho, a former supervisor in the company’s plumbing department, said he knows of numerous acts of discrimination against Hispanics.

“These workers have been used and abused,” Camacho, a Hispanic union member from New York City said. “As supervisors, we were told we needed production and to crack the whip to get it. We were told not to worry because these workers are just wetbacks and have no legal rights.”

Ermelindo Villanueva, who is facing knee surgery resulting from an on-the-job injury, said that he expects to be fired today. This action is being taken, he said, even though company officials told him they would help with his medical bills.

“This is the way they treat me after working at the company for six years,” he said.

Employees and union officials also noted that the Roger Carter plant on U.S. 258 South has been closed and the company is only operating its larger facility on Old Asphalt Road.

Plant manager Ed Eason, however, said the company has only temporarily closed the U.S. 258 plant.

“We have just scaled back our operations. Orders have slowed,” he said. “It’s much easier for us to operate out of one big plant.

“I hope we will reopen the plant eventually,” Eason added.


Bob Shiles can be reached at (252) 527-3191, Ext. 237, or bshiles@freedomenc.com

If there Social Security Cards didn't match, then ICE should be called in and have the Union to bring them in.

“The union is going to defend the rights of the workers. We will use all of the law available to secure them their rights,” Marmolejo said.

What rights? Illegal immigrants don't have the rights to employment within our borders. How can the law secure their rights? It's the law that should be deporting them, the federal law!

“These workers have been used and abused,” Camacho, a Hispanic union member from New York City said. “As supervisors, we were told we needed production and to crack the whip to get it. We were told not to worry because these workers are just R******R and have no legal rights.”

If they are illegal I don't give a damn! They need to go home.

The union better pick a side too. You think unions are having trouble now? They better jump on the America first train or they are going to really find out what trouble is.

“There is a lot of discrimination, especially if you are Hispanic and a woman” said 17-year-old Yani Ortega, who had worked at Roger Carter for about eight months. “People aren’t treated as equals.”

Mind if we get a second opinion on that?

Oh, PATOOEY

Discrimination? Treated unequally?

Don't like it? Then DON'T WORK THERE........
better yet........
GO BACK TO YOUR OWN COUNTRIES where, I'm certain, you'll be better treated!