Thread: TN: Randstad Doesn't Hire Illegals, Official Said

Randstad Doesn't Hire Illegals, Official Said

Posted: Dec 6, 2007 08:49 PM PST


NASHVILLE, Tenn. - There is new information in the NewsChannel 5 Investigation that uncovered illegal immigrants working inside one of Middle Tennessee's largest employers.

The workers are using fake documents to get hired at the Electrolux plant in Robertson County.

Anchor/reporter Scott Arnold's undercover investigation revealed exactly how the undocumented immigrants were hired.

It all starts at Randstad, a staffing agency that hires workers for Electrolux.

Arnold sat down with the operations and general counsel from Randstad, who said applicants try to get jobs with fake documents.

But, he claimed, few people beat their system.

The issue has been an open secret in Springfield.

"I think a lot of employers are hiring illegal immigrants," said Springfield City Manager Paul Nutting.

He said he believes the Electrolux plant is the biggest offender.

"You notice that there has been some change in their hiring practices," he said. "It's very obvious to everybody."

Some Electrolux employees said they noticed the change.

"Ninety five percent of them are Hispanics," said an employee.

"Why take jobs away from American people, that are begging for a job, and bring in a different culture to our country?", he asked.

How can this happen?

The hidden camera investigation revealed some answers.

Randstad initially hires the workers for Electrolux inside a trailer on plant property. Illegal immigrants said they can get a job there, even with fake identification.

Is Randstad turning a blind eye to the problem?

"We have talked to a number of people who say they have brought in fake documents, you guys know that they are fake, and you hire them anyway?" Arnold said to a Randstad employee.

The woman declined comment, but a company official said "unequivocally ... Randstad and Electrolux do not hire illegal aliens."

Steve Whitehead, operations and general counsel for Randstad, watched undercover footage.

He said the staffing agency turns away most Hispanic applicants because of fake documents.

"There have been times when somebody is working at the plant, and somebody has presented legitimate appearing documentation, and we later learn that they are not who say they are," he said. "When we find those situations, we terminate that person's employment."

When asked if it happens often, Whitehead said, "No, it happens seldom."

The undercover investigation found it may happen a little more often.

"There's plenty of people there, some that will be fired today, and they go and buy different papers, and then they go either to a different shift, or the same shift," said an employee.

Randstad claims they check identification immediately. The employees work at Electrolux, but for Randstad, for the next three months.

"Somehow they are getting through Randstad's process, but when Electrolux goes to hire them, all of a sudden they find there's a problem," Arnold said.

"Yes, that can happen," Whitehead said. "Again, the documentation that the individual presents to Electrolux may or may not be the same documentation that is presented to Randstad."

"It's almost like you owned a business in a high-crime area, you would put bars on your windows, could you all do something more like background checks?" Arnold asked.

"If they are using false identification, a background check whether it's a criminal background check or a credit check is not going to tell that this person standing in front of you is using a fake ID," Whitehead said.

Electrolux said only 1,200 of their employees are Hispanic. Of that 1200, only 17 were fired this year, and 16 last year, for documentation discrepancies.

The company denies any wrongdoing. When Electrolux reviews the employee documents, many illegal immigrants are caught and fired.

Electrolux officials take issue with much of Arnold's report. He asked for access to the plant to show what goes on inside there.

Nutting said the hiring practices of Electrolux and other industries in the city have had a negative impact on the city. The investigation continues 10 p.m. Friday.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7463870

Electrolux said only 1,200 of their employees are Hispanic.

I am very familiar with this area. It is a small rural town and I guarantee the majority of the 1200 are illegal. Just a few years ago, you probably couldn't find one non-English speaking Hispanic in the whole county. One Hispanic restaurant's address was used by dozens of people. It's a professional con game. The investigation is continuing and I hope something is done especially since a lot of people in that area need jobs!

The videos on tv showed an Hispanic man telling the reporter that "everybody knew they were illegal" and you could just get a new ID and go back to work if you were fired.

NC5 Examines Impact Of Illegals In Springfield

Posted: Dec 7, 2007 08:59 PM PST


SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. - A NewsChannel 5 Investigation discovered how illegal immigrants had bought fake identification and managed to get jobs at Robertson County's largest employer, Electrolux.

State Sen. Diane Black said she wasn't surprised by the findings.

"It appears, by this piece, that they are hiring the very people that are causing additional stresses on the community," said Black, who represents most of Sumner County and all of Robertson County.

There are several so-called stresses.

"Springfield is such a beautiful community," said Springfield City Manager Paul Nutting.

One ugly problem has chipped away at the quaint community over the past three years.

"Small mobile homes, small houses, having 10 to 12 people living in them," he said.

Nutting said an influx of immigrants has transformed a number of homes into slums and squalor.

"So, you had the mobile home overcrowded, and then you had people with sleeping bags under the skirt of the mobile home," he said.

When it comes to crime, Springfield's police chief said most of the Hispanics they deal with are illegal immigrants.

The problem has gotten so bad patrolman who drives a cruiser will now learn how to speak Spanish.

"A third of what we have done has involved a Hispanic individual," said Springfield Police Chief Mike Wilhoit.

Wilhoit said in all categories a small Hispanic population makes up a large portion of the cases the department handles.

"The citations are currently at 46 percent, the arrests are at 31 percent, and the offense reports are at 21 percent," he said.

Those numbers continue to increase.

Also putting a strain on Robertson County is the influx of new students.

"We've seen a 125 to 130 percent increase in the number of Hispanic students that have enrolled in Robertson County Schools," said Assistant Schools Director Danny Weeks.

The district now spends $1 million every year, specifically educating these students.

"It's been a challenge to our school system to learn how to serve the students who are coming in, and who do not know how to speak English," he said.

Springfield city leaders believe these issues are direct results of immigrants flocking to a town where companies will hire them.

"I consider this to be a type of modern day slavery," Yuri Cunza, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Nashville.

He said big businesses are not pushing for immigration reform because they profit from a cheap, sometimes illegal, workforce.

"We have total silence regarding the labor needs of American corporations, businesses and all," he said.

Electrolux stands behind their hiring practices, telling NewsChannel 5 only 16 workers from its workforce of 3,000 were fired for having illegal documents. The company also said it has paid out $140 million in wages and benefits to local workers, which helps Robertson County.

In a written statement, an Electrolux spokesman said, "Electrolux does not knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Every new hire undergoes two verifications of employment eligibility. The first is conducted by Randstad, a global services company with extensive experience in employment eligibility and the second is carried out independently by Electrolux, in voluntary compliance with standards that go beyond federal requirements."

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=7468873

In a written statement, an Electrolux spokesman said, "Electrolux does not knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Every new hire undergoes two verifications of employment eligibility. The first is conducted by Randstad, a global services company with extensive experience in employment eligibility and the second is carried out independently by Electrolux, in voluntary compliance with standards that go beyond federal requirements."


Can you believe anyone can stand up their and say that with a straight face? I would not want to be standing next to him - lightning might strike.

Hispanics are 40% of Electrolux's workforce. That's a telling tale since they have been there a long time and the influx has only happened in the last 6 years. They have obviously replaced a lot of American workers.