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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ManyMoose who wrote (7077)	4/13/2006 11:59:21 AM
From: Alan Smithee	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71588

I guess these guys should have thought through the consequences before taking time off to go to the immigration rally. Taking Part in Immigration Rally Cost Latinos Their Jobs April 13, 2006 By Associated Press SEATTLE - Attending Monday's immigration rally in downtown Seattle cost about 20 painters - all of them Latino - their jobs. The painters left work for Laitala Enterprises in a Fife subdivision two hours early to go to the march that was attended by about 30,000 demonstrators as Congress considers immigration reforms. "We weren't going to let 17 people leave early for basically no excused absence," Monroe-based home-painting contractor Terry Laitala told The Seattle Times. "We let people leave early if their family is sick," he said. "They didn't have a reason. I mean, they did, but none that fit into our policy." Laitala said the workers were fired for breaking company rules. The workers' union didn't agree on the number of painters fired. It said 19 painters were dismissed. On Wednesday, the union filed a grievance after Laitala refused to reinstate them, said Jeff Kelley, an organizer for District Council No. 5 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Kelley said the union has asked the company for records of potential disciplinary action on the part of other employees to see whether Laitala has acted consistently. The dismissed workers said they drew all their income working for Laitala and some have worked for Laitala for more than a year. Jorge Quiroga, the Seattle rally's chief organizer, said he was worried other Latino workers may be disciplined for having left their jobs to attend the rally. Since he learned of the Laitala firings, Quiroga has asked Latino radio stations and advocates to tell him of any similar actions. "Just because the owner doesn't agree with their cause, that's not a reason to fire somebody," Quiroga said. In dispute is when the workers first notified the company of their intent to participate in the rally, and whether the foreman gave his permission. The workers said that, in accordance with company policy, they first expressed interest two weeks before the Monday rally, and that the foreman said they could go. The foreman, Jose Duran, said Wednesday that the first time he remembered the workers telling him they wanted to attend the rally was Monday morning. Duran said he neither encouraged nor discouraged their participation. Both Laitala and Duran said that the workers weren't warned what consequences they faced if they left work early. Duran said he never imagined the company would fire them because "they are good workers." He assumed the painters would get a warning. As for their legal status, Laitala said the company hires only workers who present proper documents. The workers themselves, though, said only some of them are here legally. "These are good workers," Laitala said. "I wish they hadn't made the mistake" of leaving work early. Otherwise, "They'd still be here working."