Thread: NTTimes editorial: a national disgrace

August 1, 2008
Editorial
‘The Jungle,’ Again
A story from the upside-down world of immigration and labor:

A slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa, develops an ugly reputation for abusing animals and workers. Reports of dirty, dangerous conditions at the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant accumulate for years, told by workers, union organizers, immigrant advocates and government investigators. A videotape by an animal-rights group shows workers pulling the windpipes out of living cows. A woman with a deformed hand tells a reporter of cutting meat for 12 hours a day, six days a week, for wages that labor experts call the lowest in the industry. This year, federal investigators amass evidence of rampant illegal hiring at the plant, which has been called “a kosher ‘Jungle.’ â€

Did the workers have a gun held to their heads to keep them working at that plant? Did the workers arrive each day when they could have "escaped" the horrible conditions? What kept them from quiting and looking for work elsewhere?

All the lawyers can do is try to make excuses and make us feel bad about the poor, illiterate, exploited workers. I agree that the employers need to do hard jail time, not one of those fancy federal prision resorts either.

Still, I am very happy that identity theft charges are being brought against the workers. They all know they need 'documents' to work.