Computer 'raid' in Vernon leaves factory workers devastated

Los Angeles Times ^ | June 12, 2009 | Patrick J. McDonnell

[jeannineinsd]

Overhill Farms, a major food-processing plant in the L.A. area, terminates more than 200 employees after an IRS audit finds that they had provided 'invalid or fraudulent' Social Security numbers.

No immigration agents descended on Overhill Farms, a major food-processing plant in Vernon. No one was arrested or deported. There were no frantic scenes of desperate workers fleeing la migra through the gritty streets of the industrial suburb southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

For more than 200 Overhill workers, however, the effect was devastating: All lost steady jobs last month and now find themselves in a precarious employment market, without severance pay or medical insurance. It wasn't a hot tip or an undercover informant that helped seal their fates, but a computer check of Social Security numbers.

"A desktop raid" is how the workers' representative, John M. Grant, vice president of Local 770 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, described the scenario.

Overhill, a $200-million-a-year company that provides frozen meals for clients such as American Airlines, Panda Express, Safeway and Jenny Craig, says it had no choice: An Internal Revenue Service audit found that 260 workers had provided "invalid or fraudulent" Social Security numbers. The government took no action against the workers. But Overhill did: All of the employees were fired May 31.

[jeannineinsd]

The article states that the employess who had "invalid or fraudulent" Social Security numbers had 30 days to come forward to correct the problem. None did so, and were fired.

The tone of the article if very sympathetic to the workers that were fired. However, there is no mention at all of the Californians who are either U.S. Citizens of legal immigrants who might want those jobs. California's unemployment rate is in the double digits. It is getting harder and harder to believe that illegal immigrants are only doing jobs that Americans don't want.

[Wage Slave]

The road that connects the US and Mexico goes both ways. Get on it.

[GeronL]

give those jobs to legal citizens

[pgkdan]

The article states that the employess who had "invalid or fraudulent" Social Security numbers had 30 days to come forward to correct the problem. None did so, and were fired.

These people are criminals and should be in jail.

[MediaMole]

Boo, freakin’ hoo.

Everyone has to follow certain rules. If a bunch of illegal immigrants can’t follow the rules, too damn bad.

[domenad]

Excellent! Fire the illegals. Hire the unemployed legals. The economy improves. What a big %@#)@# surprise.

[Landru]

"The article states that the employess who had 'invalid or fraudulent' Social Security numbers had 30 days to come forward to correct the problem. None did so, and were fired. "

Oh my.
Where did they go? LOL!!

[humblegunner]

But Overhill did: All of the employees were fired May 31.

Good.

Too bad the law didn't take any action.

[TigersEye]

For more than 200 Overhill workers, however, the effect was devastating: ...

Cry me a river.

[skimbell]

"...These people are criminals and should be in jail...

Why? That cost us money.

Back to MayHeCo with 'em!

[jeannineinsd]

Photo from the article.

[SECURE AMERICA]

An Internal Revenue Service audit found that 260 workers had provided “invalid or fraudulent” Social Security numbers.

I know that if I lied on my job application and my employer discovered it I would be fired.
So a bunch of peoplelied on the employment forms and when discovered were fired. No news story here.

[dalereed]

I want to know why the IRS isn’t enforcing the law that went into effect in the 70s where if there was a discrepancy in a Social Security number they notified the employer and the employer had 30 days to correct the discrepancy by either firing the employee or correcting a clerical error or there was a $40 fine?

[wbill]

Key sentence, buried about halfway through: "Overhill says it gave the workers 30 days to correct the problem with the IRS and provide the company with verification, but none did so."

My employer comes to me. Says that there's a screwup with my Social Security number. I get it fixed, likely that day.

But, then, I'm legally in the country, and not trying to get away with anything.

[wolfcreek]

This is the good kind of *Card Check*.

Damn thieves should be deported or at least jailed for their offenses.

[Desron13]

"No one was arrested or deported. There were no frantic scenes of desperate workers fleeing la migra through the gritty streets of the industrial suburb southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Why the Hell not? What are we paying these govclowns for.

[RKV]

Man, for a number of jobs I’ve had, I’d have been liable for felony prosecution (perjury for starters) if I’d have lied on my employment application. These guys are lucky they’re not jailed and or deported. If I were in charge, they would be.

[ikka]

No immigration agents descended on Overhill Farms, a major food-processing plant in Vernon. No one was arrested or deported. There were no frantic scenes of desperate workers fleeing la migra through the gritty streets of the industrial suburb southeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Why the BLEEP not?! Come on, you can't hire over 200 illegals and not figure out eventually that they are not legally in the country... why is the HR guy or the person in charge of hiring not in jail?

[tacticalogic]

What did the expect the company to do, keep the employees and pay the IRS fines until the company went broke and put everyone out of a job?

[bolobaby]

Where is the follow up article about how 5000 legal Californians lined up to apply for the newly opened positions? That’s what I want to see!