Thread: 70 Proex workers leave Batavia plant

70 Proex workers leave Batavia plant to support 10 fired over Social Security numbers
Tribune staff report
February 26, 2008
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo Print Reprints Post comment Text size: About 70 workers walked off their jobs at a Batavia plant Monday in solidarity with 10 others who recently were fired after the company notified them of problems with their Social Security numbers, according to a workers rights group.

The longtime workers, who are all Hispanic, were fired from the Proex Inc. packaging plant after refusing to verify their employment eligibility, said Chicago Workers Collaborative director Tim Bell, who joined the picket line.

Company officials told them they received notices from the Social Security Administration informing them of discrepancies in the workers' stated identity information, Bell said. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from sending such letters to crack down on illegal workers.



Bell accused Proex of trying to get rid of experienced workers who earn higher pay.

A Proex official reached at the plant declined to comment on the strike.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/loca ... 1355.story

So those 10 fired workers refused to clear up this little problem? Could they have cleared up the discrepancies or were there no discrepancies in the SS numbers and they got caught? The company did the right thing, Bravo!

As for the 70 who walked out, bon voyage. There are now job openings for 80 American workers!

Must not have wanted the jobs since they had time to provide the proof and REFUSED to. I don't think they had the proof.

Bell accused Proex of trying to get rid of experienced workers who earn higher pay.

May be the case.....welcome to the issues of American workers. Think this is new?

Is this an 'at will' employment state? If so, the answer is easy.

Company officials told them they received notices from the Social Security Administration informing them of discrepancies in the workers' stated identity information, Bell said. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration from sending such letters to crack down on illegal workers.

New means of intimidating businesses--fire 10 for refusing to verify their employment eligibility and 70 of the workforce walk off the job to 'punish' the employer for obeying federal law.

One can surmise the 10 had no means of verification because they are possibly in the country illegally and possibly using fake social security numbers that may have been stolen from citizens--idenity theft.

Those walking off the job bring up the legal question of possiblly 'aiding and abetting' illegal immigrants.

Fences make good neighbors.