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What do you think of Postville kosher slaughterhouse fined nearly $10 million in fines ?

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A state labor agency has fined a Postville kosher slaughterhouse nearly $10 million for alleged wage violations, the largest such fine against a company in state history. Since advocates and La Raza claim the illegals do not know it is wrong to buy or use stolen documents ? Labor Commissioner Dave Neil assessed the civil penalties against Agriprocessors for what he called repeated violations of Iowa's wage laws from January 2006 to June 2008. "Once again, Agriprocessors has demonstrated a complete disregard for Iowa law," Neil said in a written statement. "This continued course of violations is a black mark on Iowa's business community." Iowa Workforce Development, the state's labor agency, spent months before and after a massive May 12 immigration raid examining internal company documents, said agency spokeswoman Kerry Koonce. Documents included time sheets, payroll and wage stubs, she said. The penalties include $339,700 for the alleged illegal deduction of "sales tax/miscellaneous" costs nearly 3,400 times; $9.6 million for illegally deducting money from 2,001 employees for protective clothing more than 96,000 times; and failing to pay 42 employees their last paychecks on May 16 and May 23, following the immigration raid. The civil penalties totaled $9.99 million. An Agriprocessors spokesman didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking comment. The company has 30 days to contest the proposed fines. The fines are the latest trouble for Agriprocessors since the May raid in which 389 people were arrested. In August, Iowa Workforce Development also fined Agriprocessors $101,000 for alleged safety violations. At the time, that was the second-largest of the year -- behind another Agriprocessors citation in March for $182,000. "It seems to be a trend with Agriprocessors," Koonce said. In September, the owner and managers of the plant were charged with 9,311 misdemeanors alleging they illegally hired minors and let children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment. The complaint filed by the Iowa attorney general's office said the violations involved 32 illegal-immigrant children younger than 18, including seven who were not yet 16. http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=28&a=368658

Public Comments

1. Just another way to cripple an American Company in our worst time! HOW CAN THIS BE GOOD? And what does LA RAZA have to do with this? They are not mentioned in the article. Did you know that there are a lot of immigration scams out there that are targeting these poor people? http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/17/anti-fraud-campaign-against-citizenship-scams-unve/ Anti-Fraud Campaign Against Citizenship Scams Unveiled TAMPA - Federal officials are warning immigrants to avoid being ripped off by people offering to help them with immigration paperwork. Iturregui has toured the country and heard stories of scams involving people who will offer to obtain drivers licenses, green cards and citizenship, and then take thousands of dollars from immigrants and disappear. Sometimes the victims are illegal immigrants who do not have the option of reporting the scam to authorities.
2. It's interesting the Pro's on this site thinks it's ok that the agribusiness is abusing people and whats worse, children. Worse time to cripple American business????? WE are trying tos ay the abuse of one law leads to abuse of others. Children are getting hurt, and they are the ones crying monetary value we can gain. My belief is that the law is the law, and I am glad this fine is being leveled. The monetary settlement should be given to the illegals workers, after examining all taxes were paid appropriately and after they leave our country.
3. That's $10 million that can be applied to the huge nation debt. and alot of jobs made available to american workers.
4. It is disgraceful that they broke so many labor laws.