Agriprocessors Wants To Hire 300 More Workers From South Pacific Island Of Palau

I guess Agriprocessors wants to get them to Postville…

…fast.

After all, they've never seen snow or felt subzero temperatures – let alone seen how little $10 an hour buys in America's heartland.

By the way, I think the reporter thought there were already 150 Palauans in Postville. Off the top of my head, the actual number is less than 25, I think.

The Saipan Tribune reports:

150 more Palauans needed at Iowa meatpacking plant
By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.

The controversial meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa is in need of 150 more Palauans, according to Minister of State Temmy Shmull of the Republic of Palau.

Shmull was the guest speaker at the 14th anniversary celebration of Palau Independence Day organized by the Palauan Community Association on Saipan at the American Memorial Park last Saturday.

He recently represented outgoing President Tommy Remengesau at the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from Sept. 23 to 26.

From New York, Shmull visited the Paluans who were earlier recruited to work in Agriprocessors, the Kosher meatpacking plant raided by immigration agents last May.

“They need around 300 for the slaughterhouse,” he said.

This would give also a chance for Palauans on Saipan to seek employment there. Some 300 of them are living in the CNMI.

The visit he said gave him a chance to see the Palauan workers' plight and personally give morale support to them and assured them that the government of Palau is closely monitoring their situation.

Shmull said the workers are definitely in good condition and well protected by U.S. labor laws.

Asked if Palau can supply the 150 more Palauan workers being requested by the plant's management, Shmull said that is one of the problems to be settled at home.

Palau has a population of slightly over 20,000, including nonresident workers mostly from the Philippines and China.

Some 5,000 Filipino contract workers comprise the biggest bulk of employment in the private sector in Palau. Local residents are only second.

Palauans are employed in the national government, receiving a “meager” income compared to the $9 per hour that is guaranteed for every Palauan worker now employed in Postville, Iowa.

The basic pay in Palau is $2.50 per hour.

Palauan nationals can travel and even live in the U.S. mainland with easy processing of travel documents, a privilege under the Compact of Free Association signed between the governments of Palau and the United States in 1994. Also under the Compact, Palauans can join the U.S. Armed Forces without going through a difficult process.

Earlier U.S. immigration officers raided the meatpacking plant and alleged that the plant had been employing illegal aliens, particularly from Mexico and other South American countries as far as Somalia.

The raid on the nation’s largest kosher meatpacking plant that exposed dangerous and brutal working conditions there, was considered as the biggest ever in U.S. immigration history.

The state of Iowa accused the owner and managers of the plant with more than 9,000 counts of child labor violations.

But Shmull said that upon his visit there, the Palauans are in “very good conditions.”

“I'm happy for them because they have been given the opportunity to have a job,” Shmull said of the 150 workers.

He said that aside from the bigger salary, the workers are also guaranteed medical insurance, paid vacation and other social security benefits under federal regulations and labor systems.

He said this is a big impact to Palau's economy.

Comments

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/31/magazine/31CONSUMED.html
Third paragraph, second sentence.

[critical_minyan]

hopefully Agriprocessors treats these workers better than their previous workers or it will be, again, a giant chillul hashem.
Palau always has supported Israel in the U.N. so it would be horrible if we repaid their kindness by not treating their guest workers fairly.
Perhaps the Rubashkin family, with all eyes on them, will finally do the right thing.

[Paul Freedman]

Exclusive video: Agriprocessor's new workers greet ICE delegation sent to properly escort them to their new homes in America's heartland!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81NROmUb7o0

[Paul Freedman]

critical_minyan: it would seem to be up to the Minister of State Shmull to monitor directly--I don't know if the story is saying that current workers from Palau are or are not being treated poorly--one the one hand "plight" on the other "in good condition and well protected by U.S. labor laws", perhaps a distinction in this case without a difference....

"The visit he said gave him a chance to see the Palauan workers' plight and personally give morale support to them and assured them that the government of Palau is closely monitoring their situation.

Shmull said the workers are definitely in good condition and well protected by U.S. labor laws. "

[Rachel Batya]

Paul, I noticed the contradiction as well. What is their "plight" if they are in good condition and protected by US labor law?

And another contradition: In September the Palauan president discouraged people from applying for work at Agri. A month later, the Minister of State seems anxious to get 150 Palauans to Postville right away.

I also wonder where they will be getting their winter clothing. Perhaps the Palau Meatworkers League? Or the local churches? They're going to need it right away.

[Paul Freedman]

Rachel: It really is baffling. From the Paluan side, they say their average wage is $2.50, and that the major employeed group are Filipine contract workers not nationals, so maybe they are impoverished.

?

Shmull adds:

"He said that aside from the bigger salary, the workers are also guaranteed medical insurance, paid vacation and other social security benefits under federal regulations and labor systems.

He said this is a big impact to Palau's economy."

But the sticking point remains "under federal regulations and labor systems" etc.

[jewishwhistleblower]

Breaking News:
http://www.wnbc.com/news/17632615/detail.html
Rabbi Israel Weingarten arrested at his Rockland County home in Monsey, N.Y. on federal charges involving sexual abuse of a minor.

[jewishwhistleblower]

Rabbi Israel Weingarten was arrested on federal charges involving sexual abuse of a minor.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/17632615/detail.html

[jewishwhistleblower]

Rabbi Israel Weingarten was arrested at his Rockland County home in Monsey, N.Y. on federal charges involving sexual abuse of a minor. Weingarten could face life in prison if he is convicted.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/17632615/detail.html

[Anonymous]

One again JWB rushes in the post his dribble not caring where he lifts his leg.

Get your own blog.

Oh, you had it and was forced to take it down.

Why don't you go interview Rabbi Blau?

[givehimthechair]

How come Vos Iz Neias and Hamercaz carry these stories and Yeshivah World does not?

http://hamercaz.com/hamercaz/site/news_item.php?id=1606

[Yochanan Lavie]

Paluan Girl (apologies to Elton John)

I see your green card, Paulan honey so sweet
Down where Postville becomes 47th Street
She's a big girl, she's standing six foot three
Killing cows for the Jews in the little city

Island girl
What you wantin' wid de Rubbishcan world
Island girl
Shmarya want you in your island world
He want to take you from the racket boss
He want to save you and the cause ain't lost
Island girl, island girl, island girl
Tell me what you wantin' wid de Rubbishcan world

She's black as coal but she burn like a fire
And she dresses a beef carcass like a Failed Messiah
You feel her knife cut your throat just like a schochet
He one more gone, he one more boss who's promises are broken

[Anonymous]

That was the worst song you've ever written.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Oh well. Back to the drawing board.

[Rachel Batya]

I actually thought it was pretty good. Not your best song, but you can't be brilliant all the time!

[WoolSIlkCotton]

It wasn't Elton John's best work either, Yochanan, so don't feel bad.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Thanks Rb & WSC. This music parody business is heartless. You're only as good as your last hit. (sniffle).

[--- --]

the man from Palau I saw there several weeks ago looked like he could belt anyone who crossed him if he had wanted to (am sure he would not act like that). Having a lst name that takes 2 lines on a nametag to write might make a kid tough. Maybe a song for the guys from Palau working there could be written! Or free movies some Saturday in a downtown building community room when winter hits.

[Rachel Batya]

--This music parody business is heartless. You're only as good as your last hit. (sniffle).--

We know, Yochanan, we know, and we feel your pain. The critics are heartless. It's so easy to cast aspersions on someone's work, and so very difficult to be an artiste.

Your friends know that you are far more than the sum of your parodies. You have your puns, too. We hope that gives you some consolation.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Rachel: Thanks. Just for that you win a free Yochanan shatnez-free t-shirt, valued at $.15 on Ebay.

[Rachel Batya]

Yochanan: I'm thrilled. Would you autograph it for me? I assume the shipping is free.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Natch. What size do you take?

[Rachel Batya]

Any size T-shirt will do, thank you, so long as it says "Barack Obama" in Hebrew.

[chabuia]

what make u say all those bad things about us palauans. what have we done, all we ever did is fill up a position that came looking for us not that we knew where is this Postville is at and to be honest we are proud palauns who have gots to come all the way here for $$$$$$$$$$$