Guard member eligible for benefits after losing Agriprocessors job
EasternIowaNews.com
A National Guard member who lost his job at Agriprocessors after returning from military duty is eligible for jobless benefits, an administrative law judge has ruled.
Allan Billmeyer worked as a production manager at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville from February 2006 until December 2008. He was on military duty from Jan. 6 until April 25, then asked to return to work at Agriprocessors May 10, according to a ruling filed Wednesday.
Billmeyer was told he should "move on and find another job," the report indicates.
Administrative law judge Bonny G. Hendricksmeyer overturned a June 24 ruling and decided Billmeyer should be eligible for unemployment benefits.
For more, see the story at www.EasternIowaNews.com
I don't know whether this man is a relative of Elizabeth Billmeyer, Agriprocessors' indicted HR manager. Even if he is, Agriprocessors had no legal reason not to rehire him – after all, there are plenty of friends, cronies and relatives of Aaron and Sholom Rubashkin still working there, and both Rubashkins are indicted.
I reported on May 15, 2009 that Trent Gorton – who told the former production manager to "move on and find another job" – alleged violated the law by firing employees who were injured or sick.
In response this and other related allegations, Agriprocessors' court-appointed trustee, Joseph Sarachek, told me."We have been and fully intend to continue to fully comply with all labor laws." He declined further comment, referring me instead to his attorney in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Before Gorton replaced Elizabeth Billmeyer as HR Director, Gorton was Agriprocessors' Safety Director. In September 2009, an employee told me in all the months he worked at Agriprocessors, he only saw Trent Gorton once – during the employee's initial orientation.
Here is the entire decision from the State of Iowa. Please click to enlarge or download the PDF posted below the screenshots: