JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

06/29/08 07:52 PM

I strongly applaud the position taken by teens of BBYO!

And I am absolutely appalled at the obvious strategy adoped by Agriprocessors and its high-powered PR team: attack this youth organization with a truckload of murky spin about how sinful it is to “gossip” about this “innocent” corporation “before all the facts are known.” Plenty are ugly facts are already known! Should we look the other way just because the company produces kosher products?

If Agriprocessors would put just a small fraction of the time and money it is spending to attack BBYO into improving working conditions at their plant, it would truly be a step toward Tikkum Olam.

Roy Sender

06/29/08 08:10 PM

I read on line:

“The B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, which will have some 900 Jewish teens at its three overnight camps this summer, says that it is boycotting the company’s meat”.

I think that is cruel. Reminiscent of darker times in history when boycotts against Jews were rampant. And more recent, of Arab boycott of Israeli products.

The only thing Agri-Processors has been accused of so far is hiring illegal workers.

I would advise your camp administrator to make sure that the kitchen and maintenance staff at all your camps have their papers in order.

If i were an Agri-Processor shareholder I would make sure that the ICE/Homeland security raid every site of B’nai B’rith this summer.

When that is done, all your USA offices should be next.

Woe to the BB if they find an illegal worker at thier branches.

BB will of course scream “anti-Semitism”.

Yes. Of course.

ICE vs. B’nai B’rith is anti-Semitism.

B’nai B’rith vs. Agri- Processors is “standing up for human rights.”

06/30/08 10:12 AM

Let me remind the audience here, there no single restaurant or grocery store in NYC that does not have illegal workers! That is why Meyer Bloomberg met with US Senate committee, asking them not to do any actions against them, as it will heart City economy!!! People, why you did not scream out loud then??? It was all over the news! It looks to me the issue here is not “illegal workers”, but Ruther ‘Jews who eat Kosher’ vs. “Jews who hate Kosher”.

06/30/08 10:17 AM

The issue, Moses, is not that the workers were “illegal,” it was that the company hired illegal workers so as to insure it would not have to provide its workforce their legal rights, including honest wages.  Ie., it abused those workers knowing that they did not have legal protection.

06/30/08 10:54 AM

Stan,

Are so convinced that what you write is the truth?

Are you ready to testify in court under oath that “the company hired illegal workers so as to insure it would not have to provide its workforce their legal rights, including honest wages”?

Or perhaps you came to that conclusion after reading the media reports?

Or perhpas a mind reader?

06/30/08 10:55 AM

Stan, I respect your position, but if you are really honest with your self and you mean what you say - you should not go to any restaurant/grocery store unless you check how much workers are getting paid and if their work day is no more then 8 hours etsc. And final question – do you keep Kosher? I bet you do not!

06/30/08 11:14 AM

I just realized that some writers are giving the impression that AgriProcessors is located in some remote banana republic writing its own rules and abusing their workers on a daily basis. Etc.

Is any one here aware that the US Government always has over two dozen USDA inspectors constantly in the plant?

Have we forgotten that multiple agencies (including OSHA) paid regular visits to the plant?

Is any aware that the illegal workers owned homes in Iowa. Obtained mortgages. Drove cars. Received free medical benefits. Their children attended public schools. They played on their sport teams competing with other counties. 

In other words-

The Federal Government,
The State of Iowa
The County
The City

were all aware of these people.

I guess they (all agencies and authorities, including Motor Vehicles, banks, etc.) never asked themselves if the papers presented by these workers were in order.

Yet they were issued: mortgages, licensees, school entrance cards.

But, at least in the opinion of BBYO, it is Agri-Processors that is only culprit!

Maybe Moses has a point.

06/30/08 01:22 PM

It’s great seeing youth putting their feet to the ground behind their beliefs.  It’s too bad that this debate is largely adults arguing over a blog post that’s about an article written about youth. 

Kol hakavod to them.  Anyone looking how to engage young folks in Judaism?  Acknowledge their leadership!  Talk to these amazing folks over at BBYO, and learn from them.

06/30/08 03:32 PM

I applaud BBYO for taking this stand.  Since first becoming informed two
years ago, my organization, the Jewish Labor Committee (JLC) has opposed the
practices of Agriprocessors with regard to its workers.

Given the workforce at Agriprocessors was largely composed of
undocumented workers, the JLC recognizes that these workers need to
be brought into compliance with the law and face the legal consequences of their decisions.  Equally, we support fair treatment of workers regardless of where they were born.  Two employees working side by side are entitled to the same pay and protections under the law. 

Just as the immigrant workers at Agriprocessors need to answer to the
law, so too should the employers.  Employers who threaten and harass
their workers, short their pay, put their health and safety at risk, and
hire children must also be brought into compliance with the law and
face the consequences of their actions.  The conditions under which
documented and undocumented workers endured were clearly contrary
to Jewish values. 

Our country has a tradition of taking advantage of vulnerable
populations and then blaming them for our economic problems. 
Jewish immigrants experienced this acutely at the turn of the century.
Immigrant s are scapegoated as the reason Americans are getting
poorer and are accused for “taking our jobs.” The real problems are
unscrupulous employers who take advantage of a workforce unable
to speak the language, and fearful of arrest and deportation, a broken
immigration policy, unfair trade policies, lopsided labor laws, faulty
mortgage lending practices and a tax system gone awry.  BBYO’s stand is
an opportunity to explore all these issues.

Our Jewish religion and tradition is clear on topic of treating workers
with dignity and respect. Our sacred texts command us to pay workers
decent wages in a timely manner and Jews have a long history of
fighting for the rights of workers. Furthermore, as Jews, we are told
that we must treat our workers decently and justly.

07/01/08 12:05 PM

To Rosalind Spigel.  This is a typical official comment, that I read many times, very boring, copy and paste, just changed some names. Be creative!!!