Posted on 08/21/2003 3:32:09 AM PDT by Born Conservative
The union representing T.J. Maxx distribution center employees defended its workers on Wednesday and criticized officials and residents who "have claimed without any proof that Hispanic T.J. Maxx workers are here illegally."
The statement, issued by the Pennsylvania, Ohio and South Jersey Joint Board of UNITE, went on that, "Such baseless accusations can lead to prejudice and discrimination and should stop. To judge someone on the basis of their race and the language they speak without knowing anything else about them is intolerant and wrong."
UNITE Local 295 represents the workers at the Pittston Township distribution center, which opened earlier this year.
UNITE Local 295 was chartered by the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union - one of UNITE's predecessor unions - in Pittston in 1947, according to the statement. Union representative Nancy Hughes of the union's Dunmore office said the workers must present forms of identification and pass a written math test to get a job at the center.
"We represent 12 T.J. Maxx (facilities) throughout the United States. We've never had a problem like this before," Hughes said of the comments from township officials and some residents.
All three Pittston Township supervisors plan to miss the Aug. 27 ribbon-cutting at the new center because they are upset with the company for starting workers at $6.50 an hour and for hiring many immigrant Hispanics and few local workers for the first 500 of the 1,200 openings it plans to fill.
The supervisors contend company officials previously told them jobs would start at $8-$10 per hour. The supervisors had hoped to bring in jobs to the township, helping to convince the company to come here by approving a Keystone Opportunity Zone for the center. That means the company won't pay property taxes for 10 years.
Supervisor Anthony Attardo said at the supervisors' meeting Monday night that was a bad choice. Township resident Thomas Szumski said at the meeting he could not prove illegal aliens were working at the center, but he said officials ought to find out.
But Szumski said that even if the T.J. Maxx workers were here legally, the low wages would put local property values "through the floor" and take jobs from local residents. Some of those residents applauded his comments at the meeting.
Szumski said he lost his construction business in California because competitors hired illegal aliens for low wages. But Hughes said union members were upset because of the attacks on the work force.
"The attack on the Latinos is certainly uncalled for," she said. "They're making it a racial issue on the people who work there," said another Local 295 rep, Marion Nalaschi. Added Hughes, "If they have an argument with anybody, it should be with the company, not with the workers." She pointed out, as did the union statement, the United States began with immigrants.
"If people felt then as they do now, there would be no one here," she said. "Only the Indians." As for the T.J. Maxx wages, Hughes said many people applied, but some did not want to work for what the company paid.
"A lot of people who worked at Thompson, Sathers, Topps were used to making 10, 12, 15 dollars an hour," she said. She said the union has a good contract that includes Geisinger HMO coverage.
Hughes also dismissed a rumor the company was planning to build housing on its grounds or in the township to house workers.
"There's no truth to that, to our knowledge," she said. Sherry Lang, spokeswoman for T.J. Maxx parent company, The TJX Companies Inc., also thought the rumor ridiculous. When asked about it earlier this month, she said she would not even ask company officials about it.
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