Day laborers accused of assault say their boss didn't pay them

N. Jersey Media Group ^ | Dec. 21, 2007 | MEREDITH MANDELL

[JimRed]

I can’t take anyone’s side on this one. The immigrants are breaking the law by being here, and the guy who got beat up is a bum looking for cheap labor, and then cheating them out of their money.

Right. Don't hire them, but if you do, pay them as agreed. Keep your word, even to those who might be considered unworthy. Keep it or don't give it.

[Hardastarboard]

the median salary is $10 an hour and it is unlikely they earn more than $15,000 a year.

By this arch-conservative's math, a median (mid-point) $10 an hour (which is wages, not salary, BTW) times 40 hours a week, times 50 weeks a year (we'll give this hard-working immigrant 2 weeks vacation because we're so "progressive") comes out to $20,000 a year.

Don't ever accuse a reporter of being stupid or economically illiterate, because by the evidence above, you're clearly wrong.

/sarc

[Alberta's Child]

Incidents like this provide a very good example of why the U.S. government has been so hell-bent on providing amnesty to illegal aliens.

At one time illegal aliens primarily served as cheap labor in this country, but that has now changed. Now, you have entire sectors of the economy operating underground -- involving illegal aliens working as laborers . . . for illegal aliens running contracting business . . . who buy their supplies from illegal aliens running building supply businesses.

There is an enormous volume of "black market" commercial activity taking place in this country, and almost none of it is subject to taxation of any kind.

On a positive note, this also explains how the U.S. residential construction market could completely collapse in 2006-07, yet the unemployment numbers have hardly changed at all.

[School of Rational Thought]

The illegals illegal activity is “honest” work.

It is also interesting that there is a call for regulating illegal activity.

[skinkinthegrass]

The problem of illegal immigration..fined and spend some time in jail.
There are no good actors here, from the US government on down....agree....short/sweet/concise. :)

[liberallarry]

Really?

The sentiments I expressed were those of a very jaded cynic, not a typical liberal.

[ViLaLuz]

“Coyotecatl-Aca” is an aztec name. The native mexicans are at the bottom of the social ladder there.

[seemoAR]

Read John 10:1. It has some nice words for illegal aliens. :0)

[joshhiggins]

Thank you. I learn something every day.

[Safetgiver]

And screw the investors and homeowners who lost their shirts in the latest mortgage scam!.... I sincerely doubt anyone who had any brains and credit lost anything.

[liberallarry]

I sincerely doubt anyone who had any brains and credit lost anything.

If only that were true...

Unfortunately, some very, very smart people lost big-time because greed blinded them (Long Term Capital Management, as a recent example)...just as it has many times before...and a lot of innocents will suffer as well.

[Just another Joe]

$15,000 a year, huh?

When I got out of the US Navy I took a job paying $5.50 and hour.
I was being paid $11,440 annually, not counting overtime.

I worked for 4 years and was making $27,000 annually, not counting overtime.

That first couple of years were hard but my intelligence, perseverance, and hard work was recognized and I got two raises that first year.
BUT, I was married with two children that first year also. We managed to make it.

True, we lived in a mobile home, had only one car, one television, no cable, no internet at home, didn't eat out much, didn't drink much alcohol, etc but we had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and Christmas presents that year so........

CRY ME A RIVER!

[Safetgiver]

Unfortunately, some very, very smart people lost big-time because greed blinded them...Wrong. Congress told these investors they HAD to make the playing field level, or they would come after them. CONGRESS wanted people who could never afford a mortgage to get one. People got them, with no principal payment, interest only, etc. etc. and when it went belly up, 3% of mortgage holders got shafted. Now Congress wants investigations, bail outs, etc. Just more redistribution of the wealth. A company such as you mentioned,is only "collateral damage". Same as credit cards. You couldn't get a credit card if you didn't have a solid background. Now, they give credit to illegal aliens with no hope of EVER paying it back. Why? Congress gets the votes from the illegals and we redistribute OUR wealth.

[humblegunner]

then cheating them out of their money.

Isn't that what non-English speaking immigrants are for?

[WOBBLY BOB]

Yep. sleep with the dogs and you get their fleas.