Filipinos Protest Loss of Airport Jobs in US

Philippine Daily Inquirer ^ | 9 Sep 02 | unk

[The Piltdown Man]

Filipinos protest loss of airport jobs in US Posted: 9:59 PM (Manila Time) | Sep.. 09, 2002 INQ7.net

HUNDREDS of Filipinos who lost their jobs as airport screeners in the United States as a result of stricter security policies following the September 11 terrorist attacks are protesting the alleged discrimination, a television report said on Monday.

GMA Network's "Frontpage" newscast, reporting from New York City, said hundreds of Filipinos who did not hold US citizenship were fired from their jobs as airport screeners because of the Airport Screeners Act enacted after last year's September 11 attacks.

Many of the workers were assigned to airports in California, where majority of screeners were Filipinos.

"By legislating a law requiring US citizenship for these functions, you are in effect discriminating against a group of people. You are singling them out," Jon Melegrito of the National Federation of Filipino-American Association told "Frontpage."

Why don't they trust Filipinos on airport security? That is what is blatantly discriminatory. Why are they singling out Filipinos? Does it mean that just because they are not citizens they are incompetent?," he added.

[The Piltdown Man]

These people just don't get it. The law was changed to employ only U.S. citizens in airport screening jobs. Period. End of story. No one is singling out Filipinos. I am sure there are legal immigrants from other countries who have also lost their jobs because of this ruling.

[evolved_rage]

Why are they singling out Filipinos?

A better question, why are Filipinos the only immigrants to get airport security jobs? These occupations are mostly Filipino because of discrimination by the Filipino hiring supervisors and managers. Its like that in most Silicon Valley companies. Once a non-US manager gains hiring privileges, they refuse to hire US citizens.

[holyscroller]

As far as I'm concerned, no "non-citizen" should be hired for anything, anywhere in the US. With as many people as we have unemployed, there are plenty of Americans to fill ALL jobs.

[Brian Allen]

<< Once a non-US manager gains hiring privileges, they refuse to hire US citizens. >>

Seriously! Every one of my buddies' kids looking for SoCal school and college jobs jobs have, dozens of times heard, "we don't hire no gardarmed gringos!"

[peter the great]

What kills me about this is that there is no guilt or shame in the sense that they broke the law, also I kind of get the feeling that these people sem to think that citizenship in the United States is an entitlement and they are protesting in their own country yet. unbelievable.

[MissAmericanPie]

Try to get a job in South Texas.

[Brian Allen]

<< Try to get a job in South Texas. >>

Try convincing me Our Nation's borders language and culture have not been compromised by the federale gummint -- and/or that we have not been successfully colonized, courtesy of our trusted servants, by turd wurld savages!

[A CA Guy]

I understand they liked their job, but in high security places of a Government nature, it make sense to only use Americans.

[MissAmericanPie]

"Try convincing me Our Nation's borders language and culture have not been compromised by the federale gummint

I would never attempt the impossible.

[Brian Allen]

Bit sad, eh?

[MissAmericanPie]

Bit more than that.

[river rat]

Now at least, I might be able to understand what I'm being told by the "Federalized and Professionalized" screeners...

Now, if they would FIRE that damned Mineta - and put someone in charge that is still not bearing a racist grudge against America - maybe we would focus more on the "swarthy" guys going through security.

Semper Fi