The last hoorah

Well, this is it folks. The beginning of my last week here in California. I've mixed emotions about it but feel it's the right thing to do. Tomorrow will be my going away luncheon at work and pretty much the rest of the week will be spent cleaning out my desk, passing on files and binders, cleaning up my data on my computer and getting it ready to transfer to my new computer in Georgia. That and spending a lot of time getting things coordinated for the move.

Now...on to more important stuff!

Illegal Immigrant Workers Sue Wal-Mart

FREEHOLD, N.J. - Nine illegal immigrants who worked as janitors at Wal-Mart until they were arrested during federal raids last month have sued the company, accusing it of discrimination The nine say they were paid lower wages and offered fewer benefit because they are Mexicans, and they accuse Wal-Mart and its cleaning contractors of failing to pay for overtime, withhold taxes or make required workers' compensation contributions.

There is something definitely wrong with this picture. First off, does the word "illegal" not mean anything to anyone? They were lucky to have a job at all. If they were in the country legally, then I would say they have a right to sue.

According to the lawsuit, Wal-Mart employed cleaning contractors "with full knowledge" that they paid illegal immigrants less than legal workers. "Wal-Mart must have known about these violations," the immigrant's lawyer, Gilberto Garcia, told The New York Times. "If these people are going to work at Wal-Marts, then Wal-Mart and its contractors should abide by the labor laws."

Whether Wal-Mart knew or not is not an issue. Since they hired the contractors, they are ultimately responsible. You know the saying...shit rolls downhill? Well, in business, the stinky stuff rolls uphill as well.

Do the labor laws actually apply to someone who is in the country illegally?

"Clearly, hungry lawyers are converging on these illegal immigrants as if they were accident victims," Williams said. "We have seen absolutely no evidence showing that Wal-Mart did anything wrong."

Sounds something like ambulance chasers.

She acknowledged that Wal-Mart has received a letter from federal prosecutors warning that it faces a grand jury investigation into illegal immigrants employed at its stores. An employer can face civil and criminal penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants or failing to comply with certain employee record keeping regulations.

Yes, and the Wal-Mart and the contractor should be held accountable for hiring illegal immigrants. But being sued for labor violations? The pieces of the puzzle just don't fit here.

Mood: Giddy
Background noise: Grim and Evil

Comments?