But in some ways, this response missed the mark.
People were more concerned about rats in their meat than about the abuse of immigrant workers. Sinclair reportedly said he had aimed the book at the public's heart but accidentally hit the stomach.
A century later, Americans need to get in touch with
their hearts.
That need is unfortunately underscored by documented safety
violations and allegations of other abuses leveled at a
meat-processing plant right here in Iowa.
Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville made national news after a
federal raid of the plant led to arrests of 389 workers in the
largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history. The public
has rightfully demanded that the government enforce its
immigration laws, after years of turning a blind eye toward
violations.
But the humanitarian concerns about treatment of workers at
Agriprocessors that have come to light also should prompt the
public to demand change.
A history of safety violations
At times, the plant has refused to allow safety inspectors to
enter and has benefited from dramatically reduced fines for
safety violations, the Register has reported, based on reviews
of public records. Accidents that led to partial amputations of
three workers' hands in 2005 resulted in only $7,500 in state
fines.
In the aftermath of the raid, allegations surfaced that
workers had to purchase their own protective clothing, that they
were paid less than minimum wage and that the plant employed
minors.
Now federal agents say they have found evidence that an
Agriprocessors employee helped distribute false immigration
documents to workers. The company may have both broken the law
and wronged workers in the process. An attorney representing
workers told the Register laborers had to pay $200 for new ID
cards.
The documented safety violations at the plant and the steady
stream of allegations of other abuses are an embarrassment to
the state of Iowa. They're an embarrassment to the entire
meatpacking industry.
Sometimes the wheels of government turn slowly. Perhaps
comprehensive investigations into all the allegations against
Agriprocessors are under way. Yet, with no charges filed against
company owners nearly three months after the raid, the public is
left to wonder whether a double standard is at work in the zeal
of prosecuting workers versus employers.
New workers, new allegations
In the meantime, new laborers have been recruited to work at
Agriprocessors - young men from Somalia who say they are here
legally as refugees - and new allegations of abuse have arisen.
These workers told the Register they were living in Minneapolis
when recruiting firms and word-of-mouth drew them to Postville.
Many are apparently replacing workers seized in the raid.
One said he and others were promised a bonus and a free month's
rent to come. But the paycheck for his first week's work totaled
$8.61. Deductions listed on his pay stub included rent and
payment on a loan he says he never took out. He also said he'd
been paid for 34.5 hours of work when he actually worked 48
hours. Another worker told the Register he had received no
training and most of his pay was also withheld. Agriprocessors
and the recruiting company that hired the workers declined
comment.
Following the Register's initial report on safety problems at
Agriprocessors, this page called for more inspectors to monitor
safety in meatpacking plants, surprise inspections to see what's
really going on and fully fining Agriprocessors when violations
are found.
But even that wouldn't be enough. Workers must be paid fairly
for their labor. Whether here legally or not, all workers have
protections and recourse under federal labor laws, according to
the U.S. Department of Labor. The agency does not inquire about
immigration status of workers when investigating complaints.
Real solution: Immigration reform
The reality, of course, is that illegal-immigrant workers are
afraid to report problems - afraid of the government and afraid
of losing their jobs. They're also afraid to call police when
they're victims of crimes and often are afraid to seek medical
attention when sick. There is nothing so powerful as fear to
keep people silent.
The solution rests with fixing our broken immigration system.
The failure of Congress and the president to move forward with
comprehensive and reasonable immigration reform leaves people
scared, desperate and ripe for abuse. Perhaps the frustration
over lack of a workable immigration policy also has hardened our
hearts to the vulnerability of all low-wage workers, including
American citizens and other legal residents.
It is unconscionable that in the United States of America in
2008, a refugee who fled turmoil in his home country of Somalia
could work a back-breaking job for a week and take home less
than $9 in pay.
This country has come a long way in the past 100 years. Refusing
to tolerate the mistreatment of our most vulnerable workers
would be the mark of true progress.