DISQUS

The Iowa Independent: Agriprocessors Imports Homeless Workers and Postville Pays a Price

  • David · 1 year ago
    Labels Any company can change its brand names and labels. But one thing it cannot change is the USDA establishment code which identifies which plant the product came from. Agriprocessors Est code is 4653A.

    If consumers look for that code they can identify whether or not the product came from Agriprocessors and decide to purchase it, or not.
  • Jerry · 1 year ago
    Another solution Has Agriprocessors tried offering an Iowa level wage, so as to attract local labor?  I see Iowa's unemployment rate is up.  Some local workers may be available if wages are in line with the nature of the work and local cost of living.  It seems like they are going to great lengths to avoid this simple solution.
  • Proud Legal American · 1 year ago
    Good Point Another Solution I agree with you.  There are plenty of people who would step to the plate and work if Agriprocessors paid a decent local wage.  It seems to me that Agriprocessors Management and Owners just wants to pay as minimally as possible to keep more money in their own wallets. 


    What I've learned in business, is that is something isn't working, adjust plans.  Homeless people from Texas aren't working out.  Illegal Aliens definitely are a NO GO!  The folks from Agriprocessors in Nebraska did not work out due to sanitary and safety issues.  Same with Labor Ready. These failures tell me that Agriprocessors Management need to alter their business plans by cleaning up the plant, hiring legal American fully documented Americans, paying a decent wage to the locals.  Suck it up Rubashkins, Agriprocessors  and all the other Illegal Alien Sympathizers!


    A Proud Legal Hispanic American

  • Getzel Rubashkin · 1 year ago
    A few comments A few comments I had, after reading this article:


    Firstly, I went on the air following Ms. Morris' interview to respond to some of her issues. I also spoke directly to her about the matter.

    She misrepresented a number of things. When she arrived she was given the option to stay in one of the "guest-houses" where some of the workers are given free lodging. She was put in a women-only house. She chose to leave that location without informing those responsible for housing, and she went to a different house without authorization.


    Her first house was having electricity and boiler issues due to the flooding in the area.


    The reason for her being fired were legitimate, but I am unsure what whether I can legally disclose that information.


    She was offered a ride to the bus station and a ticket back to Texas, which she declined. She threatened the person who offered it to her with legal action for "trying to force her to leave town."


    I did not comment on the pay advances because it is not an area I have much to do with and I had nothing of value to add to his words.


    I will close by saying that individuals that are portraying the situation here in Postville as exploitative could not be further from the truth.

  • Scott J. · 1 year ago
    Hmm? She chose to leave that location without informing those responsible for housing, and she went to a different house without authorization.


    "...without authorization"?  Are you kidding me?  "Guests" need authorization to leave your "guest-houses"?


    "... flooding in the area"?  Really?  What flooding?  And where did the other residents of your "guest-house" go, since there were electrical and boiler issues?