Labor Ready, one of America’s largest providers of temporary employment in the unskilled and construction fields pulled about 150 workers out of Agriprocessors meatpacking plant for supposedly safety concerns. We say supposedly because Labor Ready has a history of being accused of and taken to court for mistreatment and deceptive practices by employees and labor unions.
In March and April, the Iowa Division of Labor Services agreed to reduce fines against the plant for 39 violations of workplace safety rules based on inspections that took place in October 2007 and February 2008. Many of the alleged violations related to hazardous chemicals, blood-borne pathogens and what the state called “serious health violations.” According to government records, Agriprocessors Inc. has a history of noncompliance with state and federal regulations related to food safety, pollution and workplace safety at its Postville facility.
So apparently Labor Ready didn’t know they were providing workers into an unsafe facility prior to the ICE raid (if they were providing workers prior to Monday, May 12) and/or they had no knowledge of the prior safety concerns and inspections of the Iowa Division of Labor prior to placing their personnel into the plant sometime after May 12? (Wink-Wink!) So when did they know it and how much did they know? We just don’t buy it! It looks like they are trying to make a “fast exit” while they can…..DesMoines Register story
Nebraska Observer Weblog 