Immigrants tell panel of poor working conditions

If these people had legal status, they would be able to be treated humanely. Without status, they have no way to complain or stand up for themselves. DP

By ANABELLE GARAY, Associated Press

Star Telegram : DALLAS - Esperanza Fernandez remembers staying quiet while her former supervisor cursed at her and threw a pencil and other supplies at a co-worker in the window-making plant.

"All he lacked was a whip so he could whip us," she said.

Yet when Fernandez mustered the courage to file a grievance, other employees didn't join her.

Most were illegal workers who desperately wanted to keep their jobs, even if it meant putting up with a rogue boss, said Fernandez, a legal resident.

Fernandez was one of a half-dozen workers who told their stories Saturday to a panel organized by North Texas Jobs with Justice, a coalition affiliated with the AFL-CIO that includes unions, churches and civil rights organizations. The group is studying the working conditions of immigrants as Congress debates a guest-worker program and other immigration policies.

Some spoke about taking jobs that were below their educational level and being paid less than co-workers because they were in the country illegally. Many illegal immigrants have payroll and Social Security taxes withdrawn from their paychecks but can't get the money when they retire, workers and union leaders said.

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