300 sought at Wal-Mart (A Little Perspective on the Wal-Mart "Controversy")

CNN.com ^ | 10/23/03

[Recovering_Democrat]

WASHINGTON (CNN) - U.S. officials are sweeping Wal-Mart stores across the country in a bid to arrest about 300 illegal workers, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

The arrests came as part of investigation into subcontractors that provide cleaning crews for Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer. Many of those arrested were eastern European nationals who were coming off night cleaning shifts at various Wal-Mart locations, the officials said.

[Columbine]

Nonsense.

Simply requiring that a business partner conducts his business for you legally requires none of what you said.

[madison10]

In the area where I live Michigan/Ohio border near the union is strong. Toledo especially. The union members stood outside the precincts during the 2000 election and intimidated people. They also pulled such stunts in Detroit. It would be great if they were accountable to the rule of law. The unions here are having a cow because Wal-Marts are going up in Toledo right now. You see it comes down to thumbing one's nose at the union regardless of where Wal-Mart has it's headquarters.

The Rank & File members that I know are conservative, but they don't go to union meetings either...they go to church.

[madison10]

it's = its Whoops.

[SauronOfMordor]

You seem to be assuming here that Walmart knew the subcontractors were hiring illegals. I seriously doubt it, because Walmart has no way of independently verifying that subcontracted labor is legal. Walmart has no authority to demand that subcontracted workers present their work authorizations to be checked. Only the subcontractor can do that.

More to the point, if WalMart DID demand proof of citizenship of subcontractors because the employees "looked Mexican" or "looked foreign", then they would be sued. They lose either way

[At _War_With_Liberals]

A dummy subcontractor to take the hit if necessary. Smart.

Let this raid send a message to a main source of illegal immigration problems- 200 Polish workers paying taxes.

[em2vn]

"The Rank & File members that I know are conservative, but they don't go to union meetings either...they go to church."
It's beneficial if they would do both.
How were union members able to stand outside of polling locations and intimidate people? Was it by their presence or were they making threats. Either way they had no idea what people did inside of the polling booths. If they were making threats I would think that federal law had been violated and should be prosecuted.

[ChemistCat]

Nope. Don't think I want to either.

[FITZ]

More to the point, if WalMart DID demand proof of citizenship of subcontractors because the employees "looked Mexican" or "looked foreign", then they would be sued.

The article mentions many of the Walmart illegals being from Europe --- maybe Walmart figured they could get away with bringing in illegals longer if they brought them over from Europe. Either way ---- honest businessmen who paid a little more to follow the law were hurt. How can you compete with a crooked business, if you obey the laws?

[FITZ]

I know of tool and die makers ---- who used to make very good money --- now contract out in cleaning companies ---- people will clean carpets and whatever when they're trying to hold on to their house and feed their families.

I think what Walmart was doing here was also the unethical use of "contract labor" that corporations are doing. There are certain labor laws regarding your regular employees that you can avoid if you use "contract" labor instead. The contract workers don't fall under FMLA and have no other job protections that regular employees have. Not that I agree with FMLA --- I don't --- but if law-obeying corporations must follow it, then so should others like Walmart.

[ChemistCat]

I don't know how anyone could hope to run a corporation that is the second largest single employer in the country without falling afoul of some labor laws occasionally. There are probably more labor laws that apply to Wal-mart than they have employees!

I can't believe I'm defending that place. Shopping there about gives me a stroke each time. The constant ranting over loudspeakers, the narrow aisles, the body odors....

But the prices and selection trump those concerns over and over, don't they! I can go and count on getting what I need.

(Till they're the only game in town, of course; then all bets are off!)

[txdoda]

I'm no great fan of Wal-mart but the media has no business promoting the lie that these were Wal-Mart employees!>>>>>>


Both Fox News & my local news both reported that these illegals worked for a Cleaning co. that contracted to Wal-Mart.

I find it *odd* that Fox News was on site in PA, & had *exclusive* rights on the film of some of these arrests.

At any rate, our gov't is WAY behind if it takes them 5/6 years to "catch & release" only 300 illegals.

Wonder what this 5/6 year investigation cost us taxpayers ??

[JonH]

The problem is not the 300 "illegals". Hiring illegals gets a fine and nothing more. The problem is the claim there is evidence that WalMart's management knew the contract service was using illegals and allowed it to happen in the interest of lower labor costs.

If this is true, someone could go to jail.

[Zipporah]

Hmm what is interesting .. the illegals are European not illegal Mexicans. The US is being overrun by illegal Mexicans.. 300 is a drop in the bucket. Now why would the Feds go after these particular illegals (300) and not the thousands and thousands illegals from Mexico? Is this to give us a false sense that they are actually doing something about the illegal problem?

[Zipporah]

Hmm what is interesting .. the illegals are European not illegal Mexicans. The US is being overrun by illegal Mexicans.. 300 is a drop in the bucket. Now why would the Feds go after these particular illegals (300) and not the thousands and thousands illegals from Mexico? Is this to give us a false sense that they are actually doing something about the illegal problem?

[Bob J]

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[Corin Stormhands]

The illegal aliens were not Walmart employees. They were employed by a cleaning service hired by Walmart.

Think we oughta run a check on who cleans the CNN building?

[ChemistCat]

haha yeah, good one....

The media NEVER gets investigated. You know that!

[Joe Hadenuf]

DOH!

The workers were members of cleaning crews hired by outside contractors, but federal law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Wal-Mart (search) had direct knowledge of the immigration violations. They cited recordings of meetings and conversations among Wal-Mart executives, managers and contractors.

[Corin Stormhands]

They cited recordings of meetings and conversations among Wal-Mart executives, managers and contractors.

Still 300 out of a million plus employees, I seriesly doubt this is corporate policy.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Of course, why doubt a company that sells communist chinese products that have illegal aliens working in their stores....