CA: State's immigrant workers (illegals uhh undocumenteds too) score court victories on wages

Sac Bee ^ | 4/6/09 | Susan Ferriss

[NormsRevenge]

In a major legal win for immigrant workers, thousands of California construction workers will start receiving checks April 15 to compensate for unpaid wages and other alleged labor violations committed during California's housing boom.

The $8.5 million legal settlement benefits nearly 3,100 former and current workers for several companies that built houses in Southern California, the Central Valley, Central Coast and San Francisco East Bay.

A few workers initiated the complaint in 2006 after approaching a Spanish-speaking attorney, but lawyers say the case grew into one of the biggest class-action lawsuits in California involving mostly Latino construction laborers, including some who are undocumented.

"We hope that this sends a strong message that all workers have rights," said one of the attorneys, Gladys Limon of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund's Los Angeles office.

The construction settlement isn't the only indication that courts and government agencies are dealing with long-standing allegations of underpaid immigrant workers.

State Attorney General Jerry Brown's office has a new Underground Economy Unit that investigates businesses for suspected wage and workers' compensation abuse and tax fraud.

[NormsRevenge]

Ya think Lockyer’s MALDEF wifey worked on this suit? ;-)

[Egon]

I’m a bit confused here:

These people, who are here illegally, have standing to sue employers in our court system... but we don’t have standing to sue to determine whether or not our potential POTUS is an illegal, himself?

Am I taking crazy pills?

[domenad]

Good. More lawsuits please. The more we can squeeze out of these illegal-hiring scumbags, the less likely they will be to accept a social security card that was rendered in crayon.

[calcowgirl]

Actually, I kind of like this case — using illegal immigrants as slave labor is repugnant.

Now, the feds should prosecute the businesses and take the proceeds of this civil lawsuit to buy each of the illegal immigrants a plane ticket home.

[WOBBLY BOB]

If the $ comes from the companies that hire illegals, and NOT from taxpayers, this may be a good thing.

[NormsRevenge]

Am I taking crazy pills?

—

Pretty bizarre twist, huh?

I hear Long Island Ice Teas help wash ‘em down real good.

Any umbrella drink will do for me. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

The Underground Economy Unit

UEU

Put a P in front.
:-)

[Squat]

I also wonder how come we can file a FOI from the democrat party headquarters to get the proof that “zero” is legal or not? Did they are did they not vet zero?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Looks like a Pyrrhic victory for the illegal aliens....they win their suit...but now the Economic-Anti-Americans who hire them will be less likely to hire...for fear of getting sued for wage underpayment.

Silly businesses who hire illegals.....the illegal aliens will have more rights than you in court....esp in states where the population is predominantly illegal

In a way...a good ruling for hard working Americans...a bad day for anti-Americans....and later a bad day for the illegal aliens

[Myrddin]

If they are illegals, they should be put on an airplane destined for their country of origin. Once they arrive, they can send a request for payment of the wages owed. I have no problem paying them for productive work accomplished...as long as they get their illegal butts off our soil.

[Oatka]

I hope the ones who dole out the money withhold 25% in Fed taxes like Merrill-Lynch did to me when they cashed out my Wally World 401K.

[dhm914]

lets see I am a salaried exempth engineer, I sometime have to work long hours, no defined lunch nor break period. I have to work til the job is done, same pay no matter how many hours i work. I get called in on weekends, adn answer phone questions at night when i an “off” work. i pay extremely high taxes.

so how is it that an illeal can sue form not getting his break time, or for “working’ a extra few minutes each day?

we need to deport these leaches NOW.

[calcowgirl]

lets see I am a salaried exempth engineer, I sometime have to work long hours...

so how is it that an illeal can sue form not getting his break time, or for “working’ a extra few minutes each day? we need to deport these leaches NOW.

The same question could be asked of non-exempt employees... will you call them leaches and call for their deporation, too? To where?

[dhm914]

illegals, engineer or day labour, deport them all now. I dont discriminate, break the law to get in, and out you go. very equal about in that regard.

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[Seadog Bytes]

Okay... Here is our new 'official seal'...

Yeah, I already got one for my truck... How about you?

     

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

Proposal to increase Michigan beer tax to fund child welfare programs generates a buzz

[potlatch]

Lol, now you need a shirt to go with it!

[calcowgirl]

;-)

[Seadog Bytes]

Nice one... grin!!!

...but maybe it's just that our 'bear' is getting a little too long in the tooth...

[Seadog Bytes]

LOL! ...Have you got 'Speedy Gonzales' animated already?

Here's a little 'inspiration' for you....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t43_ilAdwC8

[potlatch]

Did Speedy long ago, but as Bill Richardson. Cute you-tube, wish I could use more frames in my gifs but most are large sized now!

[devolve]

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LOL!

He dropped off the radar screen fast!

[potlatch]

I’m speedy, back from the store already! Need to find another use for Speedy gif.

[devolve]

.

A Border Patrol SUV door graphic?

In a circle with a fence?

[potlatch]

With no ESP, I’m trying to picture that, lol.

[devolve]

.

Hang on a sec!

[devolve]

UNDER STARRY SKIES ABOVE

LET'S FENCE THEM OUT

[potlatch]

Very cute!! You needed “Don’t Fence Me In” for that graphic, lol.

[devolve]

.

Roy Rogers was playing golf!

[potlatch]

[Roy Rogers was playing golf!]

NO, HE WAS PULLING ON TRIGGER!!

at least you are getting funny again!

[Seadog Bytes]

LOL!

Oh, that one's only 20K, and for Speedy, it seems like you'd just need one or two of him standing still, one or two with a dust cloud, and a couple of him receeding off into the far distance... like after Picard says..."Engage"... poof!

[devolve]

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Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar?

[potlatch]

Funny as in HA HA, HEE HEE, GIGGLE, SNICKER, LOL....

[potlatch]

Yeah, that’s a tiny one. Funny about your comment about more of him receeding .... When I did a google for Speedy, there is a jpg similar to that with arriba on it!

[Kozak]

Of course being it’s a class action lawsuit, the lawyers will get the real bucks, and the migrants will get the equivalent of coupon for a happy meal.

[devolve]

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I am at a loss for verbs and nouns
And beer

[potlatch]

[I am at a loss for verbs and nouns]

That is a ‘seldom’ thing for you, lol.

[devolve]

.

They have to get their original ideas somewhere potlatch

[School of Rational Thought]

I don’t understand. If the contractors have to pay the same wage as Americans, why hire the illegals?

[potlatch]

Yep, my ‘original’ ideas come from a variety of sites too, lol. A piece here, a bit there and ARRIBA, a new gif!!

[devolve]

.

You put a new spin on older &/or neglected graphics

[potlatch]

Yes, I clean them up, make changes and put new things and faces in. Just as you used to composite all the things, lol.

[devolve]

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We kept Charlie Shultz’s gang alive