New Haven Independent

Posted by: nfjanette | March 5, 2007 3:23 PM

The reporter suggests a bias toward requiring local labor be employed for construction projects. That seems like a nice idea, but is also problematic on at least two counts.

One, such attempts by groups to force their way into power and obtain a "piece of the action" in the construction field certainly remind one of the actions of organized crime in NY and NJ. Is that a laudable goal?

Two, the "local" laborers identified in the article come from: Mexico, Honduras, and probably other rather non-local origins. I would have more sympathy for the born and bred New Haven American citizens of various ethnic backgrounds and their desire to obtain work on such projects. However, as the project manager clearly states, they are not using direct hires, so it's an issue of the free market at the subcontractor level.

Posted by: cedar hill resident | March 5, 2007 6:20 PM

Eric Tweet should make it his buisness to know that there are men on his job site makeing 2.50 an hour!!! Baby sitters make more than that!! What laws are being broken!! That makes me sick!

I know why the guys that were out in front of the job fighting for jobs that should be theirs, for people who work for a livable wage . But what they need to work on is making the laws stricter on people that use human beings the way that siding company is using the guy Alex. take that energy a step up and change the law to protect everyone now and in the future, because unless that changes there will be alot more jobs lost. You can not look at a guy like Alex as someone who is taken your job. You need to see him as the victim that he is. Changes need to be made at a higher level.

Posted by: Carrie Castro | March 5, 2007 7:37 PM

As a fellow mexican I can say that its not uncommon to see that kind of discrimination but the best most of us can do is ignore whatever ignorant person and keep trying to make our lives better.

Posted by: legalatina | March 6, 2007 2:02 PM

What we have here is plain and simple. Greedy contractor uses "temporary employment agencies" known to have a ready, willing and able pool of illegal aliens to move near/around the job site. The sad fact is that many of the local sub's who could've bid on the jobs were probably never asked nor had the opportunity to do so. Illegal immigration hurts America's workers, and our own-hard working laborers. These greedy contractors know that the subs will use the cheapest (aka illegal alien labor) and simply turn a blind eye to it. There are plenty of American laborers who would work for $18.00 or $20.00 an hour. Illegal aliens are taking jobs away from our own citizens of all colors. Shameless and shameful.

Posted by: Fairly paid Laborer | March 7, 2007 10:43 AM

$18.00 or $20.00/hr is too much money for an unskilled laborer to start out with. That's $40,000/yr for someone who doesn't need a High School education. These sub-contractors are not making the money you think they are.
If they are using labor ready, then they are using local employees. It is too much of a headache for a contractor to go through the employment process and paperwork to hire someone for a short period of time. That's why labor ready exists.

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | March 7, 2007 1:06 PM

Fairly paid Laborer

But this man says he is getting $20.00 a day an 8 hour day that is 2.50 an hour. Ct Minimum wage is 7.65. So so even if they are unskilled labor 2.50 an hour is breaking state laws! and the federal minimum wage is 5.15 an hours so they are breaking federal laws as well.

The sub-contractors are not making money because they are putting low bids to get the jobs. Problem with that is they are breaking the minimum wage laws to meeting the bidding price.

Guide lines for contractors should be in place
to prevent low ball bids.

Contrators like Eric Tweet get seveal bids for each thing they are biding out. And you have 4 companys bids that are $4000.00 and one that is $2000.00 and you tell me they have no clue how they are doing it so cheap? The price of the supplies are not cheaper there is only one place they are cutting cost and that is the labor.

$2.50 is slave labor... sweat shop prices! It is against the law (no if and or butts!) And the contrator should be reported!

Sorry this makes me mad!

Posted by: Vickey Tolson | March 8, 2007 8:57 PM

If anyone here knew what they were actually talking about they would understand that no one at that job site or any job site in New Haven would work for $2.30 per hour. And if you are insinuating that mexicans, hispanics or any minorities do not understand the value of a dollar you are sadly mistaken. Do you pay rent in CT????

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | March 9, 2007 8:37 AM

Channel 8 did a story this morning on this and now Eric Tweet Says he is going to be asking for documentation from all people on the job site to make sure they are legal. this job is going to lasting till December or so.

I am not sure that is what should of be done I just think that the workers that are there should be getting at least minimum wage.
I not really sure what the soultion is. They need to work on a federal level to make who ever is here leagal and close the boarders up. These workers have the right to some kind of protection to. Now there jobs are a risk. Sad this is a definit no win situation

Posted by: Cedar Hill Resident | March 9, 2007 9:17 AM

Vicky
I just read your post. I own a house in New Haven I am Pro Immigrant. And have stood up and protected my neighbors that are here illegally. I have friends that are here illegally and have not seen there families in 6,7,10 years because they a trapped here (for lack of a better words) I am pro working papers, pro ID card!
In THIS ARTICLE it states that the guy Alex is working for 20.00 for an 8 hour day. Do the math, that is 2.50 an hour!
And I know my friends prefer to be called Latino not hispanic.

Posted by: Seymour | March 9, 2007 10:11 AM

Come on! Anyone in their right mind could easily tell that "Alex" was not understanding the questions asked. There is no way that he is making $20/day, $20/hour is more the prevailing wages for construction workers!
Who is exploiting who here? A company that is bringing housing into the area, or a news reporter that is not ensuring the questions he is asking are understood?
As far as hiring practices go, general contractors hire "companies" not "individuals". Most general contractor's contracts stipulate legal US workers to the companies that they hire. If you are fishing for a story, the sub-contractors should be the one's under the microscope not the general contractor.

Posted by: John Wolfrum | March 9, 2007 1:24 PM

If you read the article now you will notice that the reference to the $20.00 per eight hour day is now off. That is because I am part of a company that contracts out to that crew, ALL of whom make between $150-250 per day. I am pro-immigrant as well, that is why we hire and sponsor these folks.
If we could find dependable "Americans" to do this work we would, however our experience over the years has been uniformly awful on this matter.
There are many men on our crew (who are here legally) but because of our enlightened immigration policy cannot go home to visit their families and haven't been for ten to twelve years because they wouldn't be allowed back in.
They show up every day, they work hard and send money to their families and also buy homes and pay taxes. They embody the classic American Dream and Congress and Big Business have been taking advantage of the situation for years.
Small Businesses like us however couldn't survive without them

Posted by: nfjanette | March 11, 2007 2:47 PM

To all of the outraged left-wingers that posted above: how would you like your plate of crow, roasted or baked? Chow down, folks, and next time consider checking absurd reported "facts" such as wages of $2.50 an hour. Bon Appétit!

Mr. Wolfrum: how is it that if the workers are here legally they can't travel home and return? Could it be because they originally entered legally and have overstayed their original visas? I'm aware of how hard some of these folks work, but I find it difficult indeed to believe that local residents don't want jobs that pay $20/hr.

Posted by: mary adting | March 15, 2007 11:48 AM

We should all be under a microscope! Every time we eat out, buy a new condo, have our lawn mowed, buy groceries, etc. we are supporting illegal immigration. Every time a general contractor hires a subcontractor there should be a microscope! Maybe if we would stop being so greedy we would pay people a decent wage and the salary bases for jobs would be fair, instead of constantly undercut by the next wave of illegals.

If we have such a big problem with Americans not wanting to do certain jobs and there are so many of those jobs, then let's make immigration totally fair - increase the annual country quotas. How many people from Darfur would like to have the opportunity to come here? Iraq? Bugaria? Romania? Vietnam? China? Ivory Coast? Congo? Maybe we could take in the Central American illegals going into southern Mexico who are poorly treated by the Mexicans?

Let's keep the immigration from countries balanced as it was meant to be. Millions of people, legal or not, from one country is not fair, is not balanced, and does not create the melting pot we all want America to continue to be. So to that I say send all the illegals home. You want to come back? Do it legally, just like you neighbor did. When your country meets its annual quota, try again next year.

My heart goes out to all the people of the world who are truly, and I mean truly, economically, politically and religiously persecuted who do not have the luxury of a border with the United States.

One last note, I am a liberal, the bleeding heart kind that can still recognize b.s. when I see it.