Indian Immigrants Revolt in Mississippi...........

[nhboy]

Revolt in Mississippi: Indian Workers Claim 'Slave Treatment'

"Rebelling against alleged "slave treatment," some 100 workers recruited from India staged a dramatic protest at a Mississippi shipyard Thursday, claiming they had been tricked into coming to the United States.

The workers, brought from India to work as welders and pipe-fitters at Signal International shipyard in Pascagoula, hurled their hard hats at company gates and demanded a federal investigation."

"The Mississippi Gulf Coast has faced a severe labor shortage in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and many companies have replenished their workforce with overseas labor brought in under a guest worker plan. Human rights groups, however, charge that many foreign workers have been exploited by their employers."

ABC News: Revolt in Mississippi: Indian Workers Claim 'Slave Treatment'

 

[Bustem' Down]

Revolt in Mississippi: Indian Workers Claim 'Slave Treatment'

"Rebelling against alleged "slave treatment," some 100 workers recruited from India staged a dramatic protest at a Mississippi shipyard Thursday, claiming they had been tricked into coming to the United States.

The workers, brought from India to work as welders and pipe-fitters at Signal International shipyard in Pascagoula, hurled their hard hats at company gates and demanded a federal investigation."

"The Mississippi Gulf Coast has faced a severe labor shortage in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and many companies have replenished their workforce with overseas labor brought in under a guest worker plan. Human rights groups, however, charge that many foreign workers have been exploited by their employers."

ABC News: Revolt in Mississippi: Indian Workers Claim 'Slave Treatment'

Ok, send them back home to Beautiful India, Lad of the Feces Stink.

 

[nhboy]

Ok, send them back home to Beautiful India, Lad of the Feces Stink.

Apart from that, it does make me wonder why the company isn't hiring American workers. Do we really have a labor shortage in these skills?

 

[Sula]

Apart from that, it does make me wonder why the company isn't hiring American workers. Do we really have a labor shortage in these skills?

I'm guessing we have a shortage of people willing to work for the wages.
The country is full of idiots but, idiots that believe they are worth a lot.

 

[Bustem' Down]

Apart from that, it does make me wonder why the company isn't hiring American workers. Do we really have a labor shortage in these skills?

Actually, we might. I was watching a show on tv about the Newport News shipyard and the guys working there for years were talking about that there were not enough qualified people coming into the yards to replace them as they retire. I mean, I don't have any numbers or anything, but I wouldn't doubt it. How many kids coming out of school are eager to go work in the yards?

 

[nhboy]

How many kids coming out of school are eager to go work in the yards?

You may be right. I did some welding in high school shop and then some in the military. A nice skill to have, but I wouldn't want to do it for a living!

 

[ImnoMensa]

Actually, we might. I was watching a show on tv about the Newport News shipyard and the guys working there for years were talking about that there were not enough qualified people coming into the yards to replace them as they retire. I mean, I don't have any numbers or anything, but I wouldn't doubt it. How many kids coming out of school are eager to go work in the yards?

Pretty soon ,the way things are going, Kids coming out of school might have to take any job they can get. They might not be eager,but they may have to face reality. Things are getting tight in the job market.

 

[Lenny]

We're talking Mississippi, right?

Apart from that, it does make me wonder why the company isn't hiring American workers. Do we really have a labor shortage in these skills?

Yes, skilled labor is in short supply.

 

[nhboy]

That was uncalled for..... Lenny you serve as a fine example of the kinds of people children will desperately want to avoid becoming when they grow up.

I did notice that you got your favorite quote from a comic book, that may have something to do with your issues.

 

[cwo_ghwebb]

Yes, skilled labor is in short supply.

I totally agree, skilled labor is in short supply. An unproven graduate with a major in education can start at $42k. But all the grads really think they are worth at least that.

Very few young folks want to go into the trades anymore.

It's easier to sell crack and make quick, easy money.

 

[Lenny]

That was uncalled for..... Lenny you serve as a fine example of the kinds of people children will desperately want to avoid becoming when they grow up.

I did notice that you got your favorite quote from a comic book, that may have something to do with your issues.

Don't bother trying to the wisdom game. You are too ill prepared.

 

[nhboy]

Update

"Even as their Mumbai-based recruiters tried to wash their hands off workers protesting over inhuman living conditions in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has written to the Indian ambassador in Washington to investigate the matter."

"The recruits were promised salary ranging between $14 and $18, an hour. Simultaneously, they were offered H2B visa/permanent residence in the US, the realisation of the (latter) was to be based on their performance."

India to probe workers woes in Mississippi- Hindustan Times

 

[Toxick]

The workers, brought from India to work as welders and pipe-fitters at Signal International shipyard in Pascagoula, hurled their hard hats at company gates and demanded a federal investigation."

I don't blame them. There should damn-well right be a federal investigation.






Right after these people are sent home.

 

[This_person]

"Even as their Mumbai-based recruiters tried to wash their hands off workers protesting over inhuman living conditions in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi has written to the Indian ambassador in Washington to investigate the matter."

"The recruits were promised salary ranging between $14 and $18, an hour. Simultaneously, they were offered H2B visa/permanent residence in the US, the realisation of the (latter) was to be based on their performance."

India to probe workers woes in Mississippi- Hindustan Times

Is someone stopping them from upgrading their living conditions with the money they earn?

"For more than one year, hundreds of Indian workers at Signal International have been living like slaves," said former Signal worker Sabulal Vijayan. "Today the workers are coming out to declare their freedom. This trafficking needs to end."

They're making 14-18/hour, get visas, and the ability to jump ahead in line from others also trying to be here, and the ability to walk off the job any time, and they think that's living like slaves??

Anyone wanna buy these folks a copy of Roots?

 

[vegmom]

"The workers claim they were defrauded by a Signal International recruiter in India who promised them green cards and permanent residency in the U.S. in exchange for a $20,000 fee. The workers allege that they instead received 10-month work visas, which was only enough time for them to pay off their recruitment fees.

The workers also claim that Signal forced them to live in substandard housing, with 24 men crammed into a small room. The men say Signal charged them more than $1,000 a month to live in company housing."

If the allegations are true I'd be pissed too. By the time they paid back the recruitment fee and the rent (which for Mississippi is ridiculously high) I would imagine there was nothing left to move into better housing. And no sponsor on a work visa (should they be terminated or voluntarily quit) means bye bye back to Mumbai.

And it appears they were not allowed to "jump ahead" of anyone if they only had temp work visas or H1Bs. The recruiter just told them they could get green cards.

 

[Lenny]

"The workers claim they were defrauded by a Signal International recruiter in India who promised them green cards and permanent residency in the U.S. in exchange for a $20,000 fee. The workers allege that they instead received 10-month work visas, which was only enough time for them to pay off their recruitment fees.

The workers also claim that Signal forced them to live in substandard housing, with 24 men crammed into a small room. The men say Signal charged them more than $1,000 a month to live in company housing."

If the allegations are true I'd be pissed too. By the time they paid back the recruitment fee and the rent (which for Mississippi is ridiculously high) I would imagine there was nothing left to move into better housing. And no sponsor on a work visa (should they be terminated or voluntarily quit) means bye bye back to Mumbai.

And it appears they were not allowed to "jump ahead" of anyone if they only had temp work visas or H1Bs. The recruiter just told them they could get green cards.

So are you saying these people, who have a gripe with the local recruiters in India, should demand restitutiton from the United States government? Aren't you saying they have the same complaints as the descendents of former slaves? In which case, neither party should be given the time of day.

 

[vegmom]

So are you saying these people, who have a gripe with the local recruiters in India, should demand restitutiton from the United States government? Aren't you saying they have the same complaints as the descendents of former slaves? In which case, neither party should be given the time of day.

Where in the article did they ask our government for restitution? They were asking for an investigation. Immigration fraud on the part of their employers/recruiters is what they are alleging.

 

[theArtistFormerlyKnownAs]

Where in the article did they ask our government for restitution? They were asking for an investigation. Immigration fraud on the part of their employers/recruiters is what they are alleging.

did somebody FORCE them to come to the US?

I doubt it.

I think this is a case of "believing everything you hear".

Unless the terms were in a contract, the employers can change the conditions all they want :shrug:

 

[ylexot]

I find it hard to believe that they were "forced" to live at a certain place and had to pay $1000/month rent.

 

[vegmom]

did somebody FORCE them to come to the US?

I doubt it.

I think this is a case of "believing everything you hear".

Unless the terms were in a contract, the employers can change the conditions all they want :shrug:

No, but they were told "hey pay us $20,000 and we'll get you a good job and a greencard" which was an outright lie. Why would they pay someone that fee to come work here just long enough to pay it back? Employers can sponsor you for an H1B or temp work permit but they can't get you any type of immigrant visa or perm resident status.

As far as housing goes, they were living in dormitories and may not have had their own means of transportation outside of what the company provided. More info needed to draw any conclusion.