Several hotels in California are accused of hiring immigrants from Skid Row when union workers went on strike, according to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office, prompting an investigation by the Soros-backed DA.
Skid Row is a 54-block area in Downtown Los Angeles and has one of the largest stable homeless populations in the United States and has been known for its dense homeless population since at least the 1930s.
On Monday, Soros-backed DA George Gascón said he would investigate whether several union hotels in the Santa Monica and Westchester areas were involved in possible exploitative practices, stating, “We will make sure this is thoroughly investigated. It will be a fair and impartial investigation.”
“If there is a violation of the law, there will be severe consequences for this. We want to make sure our community understands that there will be no tolerance for the exploitation of refugees,” said Gascón.
Tents for the homeless are seen on the sidewalks of Skid Row in Los Angeles, California. AFP via Getty Images
Gascón also said he was “concerned about potential wage theft and violations of child labor laws,” the LA Times reported.
The announcement follows allegations raised by the Los Angeles Times that many LA-area hotels employ immigrants after 15,000 unionized workers went on strike at 60 hotels.
It went on to accuse the hotel of not providing breaks or properly documenting the time.
George Gascón said he will investigate whether several union hotels in the Santa Monica and Westchester areas are involved in possible exploitative practices. AP
Employers are reportedly scrambling to fill positions vacated by striking workers, allegedly going so far as to recruit immigrants from Skid Row, according to the LA Times.
A leader in the union organizing the strike, Unite Here Local 11, blasted the hotel for allegedly undermining their planned protest.
“I can’t believe they’re forcing these people, who are so desperate, to cross the picket line,” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, told the LA Times.
More homeless people are seen in the Skid Row district of Los Angeles. Ringo Chiu
“Instead of addressing LA’s housing crisis, the hotel industry would rather exploit the homeless as strike-breakers to avoid paying their own workers enough to buy their own homes.”
Under part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, immigrants with refugee or asylum status are allowed to seek employment and employers are not allowed to discriminate against such candidates.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
