Reuters: Hispanics do jobs others in U.S. "won't stand for" (Andrea Hopkins, Tim Gaynor)

Like a combination between an old-tyme ethnographer and a present-day cheap labor pimp, Andrea Hopkins of Reuters offers this:

As President George W. Bush's plans for a guest worker program languishes in a backlash against immigration, employers both large and small say they rely on Hispanic workers to keep the economy running.

A quote from a landscaper pining for more cheap labor follows, as does a story of an Average Homemaker who hired day laborers ("They do their job and do it well"). The latter paragraphs are highly reminiscent of the April 29, 2006 AP promotional piece "No. 1 employers of day laborers? Homeowners" (link; "It was first time [Chris James of Burbank] hired day laborers but it won't be his last.")

Then, we're treated to the only slight indication that their wonderful "traits" aren't necessarily genetic, but are based on something else: "They do it because they really want to feed their families." In other words, they're really, really desperate. But, part of it might be genetic:

"They'll work in extreme temperatures, in 115 degree (46 Celsius) weather, and most people won't stand for that."

That's oddly similar to the open letter that cheap labor profiteers wrote last year:

...few young Americans want to do hard physical labor, particularly in our climate. And in the less-skilled construction trades – masonry, concrete, drywall, tile – more than 80 percent of Texas' workforce is Latino.

Needless to say, the article doesn't look into the desperation aspect, and simply serves as an infomercial for cheap foreign serf labor. Which leaves me wondering why exactly Reuters continually prints things like this. Whose agenda are they trying to promote: that of the Bush administration, or the Democrats, or those who profit from cheap labor, or racial power groups, or what? And, are they paid to do it?

The article also features "additional reporting by Tim Gaynor in Phoenix", and I'm sure this is his contribution:

Julian Claudio Nabozny, owner of five McDonald's restaurants in Phoenix, sees the work ethic and close cultural ties among his Latino workers as nothing but a good thing... "Latinos [will] come to work even if they feel sick," said Nabozny. About 200 of his 220 employees are Latino... "[One of his assistant managers] comes in sick. We gave her health insurance and we have to tell her, 'Aurora go see a doctor!'" he said. "She wants to make us happy."

I wonder: when hiring people, does he discriminate in favor of Hispanics? And, do you want sick people to be working at McDonald's? Those are certainly good questions for McDonald's corporate offices, and I suggest you ask them.

And, if you're in the area and if you see any of his workers coughing and wheezing, document it and contact the health department. (Only if you see specific instances, of course.)

And, while I have no proof of discriminatory practices, I'd say 200 out of 220 is a very high number, so the Phoenix Human Relations Commission might be interested as well: phoenix.gov/HMNRELAT/index.html

Comments

"The latter paragraphs are highly reminiscent of the April 29, 2006 AP promotional piece "No. 1 employers of day laborers? Homeowners" (link; "It was first time [Chris James of Burbank] hired day laborers but it won't be his last.")"

Yeah, right! When the infamious Herndon Day Laborer Center (DLC) opened up, a bunch of small informal DLC's sprang up all over town. Many "employers" frequenting them were not private homeowners but instead a bunch of contractors who were not playing by the rules (paying fees, getting licenses, paying taxes, etc) and so wanted to avoid the formal center, which kept records.

Also, a few private homeowners all over the country who picked up a day laborer that they didn't know and took him home have found themselves dead. Not a good career move.