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Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Freeper on August 31, 2009, 03:24:59 PM

Title: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Freeper on August 31, 2009, 03:24:59 PM
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The Straight Story  Donating Member  (1000+ posts)  Journal  Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-31-09 12:27 PM
Original message
Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
   
Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue?

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed in Las Vegas claims illegal immigrants are entitled to back wages, a legal point as yet unsettled, a prominent law professor said.

"The door is not shut until the Supreme Court shuts it," said William Gould, former chairman and professor emeritus at Stanford Law School said.

In Las Vegas, illegal workers have filled suit against Bravo Pro Maintenance, a cleaning company that workers say cheated them of wages and demanded 13-hour work days without paying overtime, the Las Vegas Sun reported Monday.

The U.S. Supreme Court has heard a case brought by an illegal immigrant, ruling in 2002 that the right to participate in union activity could "encourage … evasion of apprehension by immigration authorities."

However, lower courts have so far leaned in favor of granting illegal workers the right to sue under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the newspaper reported.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/08/31/Illegal-wor...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6430584

And they have the nerve to claim that Illegals will not be covered under Obama care.

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Recursion  (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author  Click to view this author's profile  Click to add this author to your buddy list  Click to add this author to your Ignore list      Mon Aug-31-09 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #6
11. The crime is in *hiring* an undocumented worker
   
Someone working without a green card isn't breaking a law. The person hiring him or her is.

 :banghead: :banghead:
Do I even have to mention what is wrong with that post?


Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: djones520 on August 31, 2009, 03:28:49 PM
No, Recursion is right.  The illegals are illegal because they snuck into the country, not because their trying to feed their families.

I do gotta back the illegals here on this one.  They put the time in, they deserve the pay.  At the same time, their employer needs get get hit in the face with the book.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Freeper on August 31, 2009, 03:33:50 PM
No, Recursion is right.  The illegals are illegal because they snuck into the country, not because their trying to feed their families.

I do gotta back the illegals here on this one.  They put the time in, they deserve the pay.  At the same time, their employer needs get get hit in the face with the book.

I wonder what kind of proof they would use that they worked those hours. I doubt they had time sheets I would think the employer wouldn't have left a paper trail.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: docstew on August 31, 2009, 03:36:07 PM
No, Recursion is right.  The illegals are illegal because they snuck into the country, not because their trying to feed their families.

I do gotta back the illegals here on this one.  They put the time in, they deserve the pay.  At the same time, their employer needs get get hit in the face with the book.

Roger that.  Anything else smacks of slavery.

The contract the employer has with them is that they do X job for Y money... as long as X job is legal (i.e. roofing or picking fruit) except for the status of the person doing it, the contract is valid.

I still say, give em their back pay when they step off the bus back in Mexico.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: djones520 on August 31, 2009, 03:38:14 PM
Roger that.  Anything else smacks of slavery.

The contract the employer has with them is that they do X job for Y money... as long as X job is legal (i.e. roofing or picking fruit) except for the status of the person doing it, the contract is valid.

I still say, give em their back pay when they step off the bus back in Mexico.

No arguments there.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Texacon on August 31, 2009, 03:54:52 PM
It works both ways. 

1.)  Hit the employer with large enough fines they won't do it anymore.

2.)  Let the illegals get hosed for their work and eventually they will stop coming here to find work.

KC
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: BlueStateSaint on August 31, 2009, 04:30:45 PM
No, Recursion is right.  {b]The illegals are illegal because they snuck into the country, not because their trying to feed their families.[/b]

I do gotta back the illegals here on this one.  They put the time in, they deserve the pay.  At the same time, their employer needs get get hit in the face with the book.

Gotta agree with both bolded sentiments in this one.  Especially the second. 

Ya know what the solution is?  Don't hire them in the first place!
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: docstew on August 31, 2009, 07:51:03 PM
Tex, I agree with you about the illegals choosing not to come here, but having someone work for you without paying them is theft of their time and labor.  One of the principles we stand for is everyone's labor is worth something, and that no one should be able to deny anyone from enjoying the fruits of their own labor.  Like I said, any other stance reeks of slavery, or at least indentured service.

I do agree about fining the employers, up to and including the value of their business for repeat offenders.  Should only take 2 or 3 cases of forfieture of ownership for employers to realize it's better to follow the law.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: GOBUCKS on August 31, 2009, 08:59:20 PM
Illegals should be able to sue for back wages only AFTER deportation.
No one should have access to the courts for anything but a deportation hearing while here illegally.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: The Village Idiot on August 31, 2009, 09:25:43 PM
No, Recursion is right.  The illegals are illegal because they snuck into the country, not because their trying to feed their families.

I do gotta back the illegals here on this one.  They put the time in, they deserve the pay.  At the same time, their employer needs get get hit in the face with the book.

what if its not legal for an employer to find out if they are legal or not?
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: djones520 on August 31, 2009, 09:30:18 PM
what if its not legal for an employer to find out if they are legal or not?

*shrugs*  Who knows.  If the employer did know, then he should be prosecuted as such.  If he had no means of not knowing, then how can it be held against him?

That doesn't sound like the case though.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: docstew on August 31, 2009, 09:33:39 PM
what if its not legal for an employer to find out if they are legal or not?

As a private entity, they have the right to ask... it's the local nitwits in the "sanctuary cities" that can't.

Besides, if he asks, what's the illegal gonna do, call the cops?  that's like the drug dealer reporting a theft of his supply.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: The Village Idiot on August 31, 2009, 09:37:36 PM
*shrugs*  Who knows.  If the employer did know, then he should be prosecuted as such.  If he had no means of not knowing, then how can it be held against him?

That doesn't sound like the case though.

we need e-verify but the federal bureaucrats are likely to not want us to know if the applicant is illegal or not.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: USA4ME on August 31, 2009, 10:43:53 PM
If this goes forward it'll get settled out of court.  You can't allow a precedent to be set for this, it'd break the bank and open the door for additional claims by illegals of non-payment, bogus or not.  Hopefully it'll get thrown out.

.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: The Village Idiot on August 31, 2009, 11:05:46 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT2EX07lQy8

This is whatt illegal workers and employers (knowingly) deserve
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Celtic Rose on September 01, 2009, 01:01:53 AM
what if its not legal for an employer to find out if they are legal or not?

I don't think that there is any place where it is legal to not ask an employee to show work authorization.  You cannot ask if they are a US Citizen, Permanent Resident, non-immigrant worker,etc., but if they are here legally and are permitted to work, they will have a document to show it, and employers have to ask for it for I-9 purposes.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on September 01, 2009, 06:26:17 AM
It works both ways. 

1.)  Hit the employer with large enough fines they won't do it anymore.

2.)  Let the illegals get hosed for their work and eventually they will stop coming here to find work.

KC

I don't really agree.  The way I see it, by not allowing them to sue under FLSA, you are basically adding a huge economic incentive to hire them, work them for 60-70 hours a week for less than minimum wage while paying thme for 40 hours or less, and then walk away laughing.  Not allowing them to sue protects the criminals. 
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Tucker on September 01, 2009, 06:32:41 AM
 Pay them the money and them promptly arrest them. Fine them the money in a legal proceeding and them deport them. :lmao:
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Carl on September 01, 2009, 07:19:13 AM
Guess I can see this one both ways as far as from the illegals point of view.

You come here against the law and take a job from someone possibly or probably knowing they are breaking the law so what do you expect?
It is sort of like someone calling the cops because they were sold bad dope.

On the other hand who knows what they are promised and what reality changes to once they get here.

Regardless the employer needs to face a severe penalty.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: lastparker on September 01, 2009, 08:53:11 AM
A family member of mine, an attorney, does exactly this for a living - he sues employers for back wages on behalf of the immigrants.  In Kalifornia.

He's a flaming moonbat, incredibly brilliant, and chooses to spend his law degree doing this, on principle, versus making a crapload of money, which he could considering the ivy league law degree he has.

Eh, he's funny and I love to see him on holidays.  We avoid political talk.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: BlueStateSaint on September 01, 2009, 11:20:12 AM
A family member of mine, an attorney, does exactly this for a living - he sues employers for back wages on behalf of the immigrants.  In Kalifornia.

He's a flaming moonbat, incredibly brilliant, and chooses to spend his law degree doing this, on principle, versus making a crapload of money, which he could considering the ivy league law degree he has.

Eh, he's funny and I love to see him on holidays.  We avoid political talk.

The bolded is actually something I can respect.  Your last sentence . . . smart for the both of you.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Chris_ on September 01, 2009, 11:27:30 AM
Roger that.  Anything else smacks of slavery.

The contract the employer has with them is that they do X job for Y money... as long as X job is legal (i.e. roofing or picking fruit) except for the status of the person doing it, the contract is valid.

I still say, give em their back pay when they step off the bus back in Mexico.
Slavery assumes the person was forced to work.  Illegals enter this country by their own free will.  They accept jobs the same way.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: GOBUCKS on September 01, 2009, 11:44:53 AM
It works both ways. 

1.)  Hit the employer with large enough fines they won't do it anymore.

2.)  Let the illegals get hosed for their work and eventually they will stop coming here to find work.

KC
Agree.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: SSG Snuggle Bunny on September 01, 2009, 01:45:32 PM
I don't really agree.  The way I see it, by not allowing them to sue under FLSA, you are basically adding a huge economic incentive to hire them, work them for 60-70 hours a week for less than minimum wage while paying thme for 40 hours or less, and then walk away laughing.  Not allowing them to sue protects the criminals. 
I concur.

Allow the workers to sue. Then each company that hires them is 1 disgruntled worker away from being dimed-out. Add to it the sandard criminal penalties in addition to the civil liabilities and the insentive to hire illegals over lawful aliens/citizens is no longer attractive.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Texacon on September 01, 2009, 02:15:44 PM
I don't really agree.  The way I see it, by not allowing them to sue under FLSA, you are basically adding a huge economic incentive to hire them, work them for 60-70 hours a week for less than minimum wage while paying thme for 40 hours or less, and then walk away laughing.  Not allowing them to sue protects the criminals. 

But in this case you have a criminal suing a criminal.  Both of them are wrong and should be punished.

Unless and until you make it uncomfortable/unprofitable for both the employer and the employee you will have the same problem.

KC
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: djones520 on September 01, 2009, 05:30:14 PM
But in this case you have a criminal suing a criminal.  Both of them are wrong and should be punished.

Unless and until you make it uncomfortable/unprofitable for both the employer and the employee you will have the same problem.

KC

Then deport the illegals once the affair is done.  No ones saying we want them to stay.  But they did earn their pay.  In the mean time, we can still keep looking for the employers hirin them through standard means.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Texacon on September 01, 2009, 05:35:29 PM
Then deport the illegals once the affair is done.  No ones saying we want them to stay.  But they did earn their pay.  In the mean time, we can still keep looking for the employers hirin them through standard means.

This is where we will have to disagree.  I feel like;  If they are in my country illegally then they have no rights. 

Of course, I don't discriminate.  If someone comes into my home illegally they have no rights there either.  More likely than not the headline that would be in the morning paper would be "Justifiable Homicide in Small Local Community has Neighbors Cheering"

KC
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Chris_ on September 01, 2009, 07:08:14 PM
Working illegally in this country was their choice, and their risk to take.  If they don't get paid, tough sh*t.  They should not have been here in the first place.

Let 'em sue.  Anyone winning such a suit should be subject to immediate deportation and loss of all income from sais lawsuit in the form of an "alien tax"  (all said funds to be used to build/improve the border fence).  Then place a penalty on the employer at a rate of 110% on any profit made from illegal labor.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Texacon on September 01, 2009, 07:54:53 PM
Working illegally in this country was their choice, and their risk to take.  If they don't get paid, tough sh*t.  They should not have been here in the first place.

Let 'em sue.  Anyone winning such a suit should be subject to immediate deportation and loss of all income from sais lawsuit in the form of an "alien tax"  (all said funds to be used to build/improve the border fence).  Then place a penalty on the employer at a rate of 110% on any profit made from illegal labor.

I agree.  To me this is akin to the burglar who sues the business when they get stuck in the vent-a-hood trying to break in to 'make their living'.

KC
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: NHSparky on September 01, 2009, 08:22:29 PM
Regardless the employer needs to face a severe penalty.

And neither party will ever do that, for their own reasons.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: NHSparky on September 01, 2009, 08:23:13 PM
Agree.

Not when you consider what we think is "hosed" is still damn good money to them.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Texacon on September 01, 2009, 08:34:30 PM
This makes me wonder.  Should the illegals sue their employer and be successful at it ..... will TAXES be taken from ALL the earnings?  Retroactively?  Seems only fair.

KC
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: NHSparky on September 01, 2009, 09:00:29 PM
I look at it this way--if they can do it to illegals, then what's to stop them from doing it to LEGAL immigrants or even citizens?

Now, if they are in fact illegal, fine--pay them, then tax their asses and make them pay for their own plane ticket back to nation of origin.
Title: Re: Illegal workers: Are they entitled to sue? (For back wages)
Post by: Chris_ on September 02, 2009, 06:59:46 AM
I look at it this way--if they can do it to illegals, then what's to stop them from doing it to LEGAL immigrants or even citizens?
....................
There's that little matter of legal status in this country.
They break the law by entering this country.
They break the law by working in this country without authorization.
Now they complain for being screwed when they broke the law???  WTH?