Law-Forums.org

[breasal]

Chanting in Spanish and wearing Santa hats, about 50 fired Chipotle workers and their families crammed into the Mexican chain's Nicollet Mall restaurant in downtown Minneapolis at lunchtime Wednesday, protesting what they called unjustified firings around the state following a federal investigation over their legal status to work in the U.S.

Some of the employees have worked for Chipotle for 10 years, but starting in early December, many were told they had worked their last day. The activist group Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee kept count of the firings and helped the workers organize and speak out.

On Wednesday, the Latino workers demanded the company provide detailed explanations for why they were terminated and provide paychecks they say are still due them, including bonuses and payment for unused vacation.

Through interpreters, they also asked for an additional 90 days on the payroll so workers who might be fired mistakenly can gather their paperwork.

"We have not received all our wages, bonuses and vacation due to us," a worker who did not want to be named told the group and anyone who would listen on the busy Nicollet Mall just before a picket line formed in front of the store.

The protest was part of a campaign supported by the Immigrant Rights Action Committee, the Service Employees International Union Local 26 and the Center of Workers United in Struggle. The groups estimate more than 100 workers were fired throughout Minnesota in December from various Chipotle restaurants. There are 50 stores in Minnesota and about 1,200 workers. The firings were the result of an audit by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Denver-based Chipotle said Wednesday that representatives of the 1,000-store chain would meet with workers in January.

"We are saddened to be losing some excellent employees — many of whom have been with us for several years — and all of this comes in response to a request for documents made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Minnesota," the company said in a statement.

"While the laws in this area put employers in an untenable position — having to strike the difficult balance between enforcing immigration laws while not discriminating against any applicant — all of our policies and practices are and must be fully compliant with federal and state law."



Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Fired-Workers-Protest-at-Chipotle-916788.php#ixzz18ytHBYGw

[leonie36]

Lol...why do they think they need a detailed explanation why they were fired? They were not authorized to work in the US,that's all the detail they need.

[leland]

"the Latino workers demanded the company provide detailed explanations for why they were terminated"

They want detailed explanations? How's this? You're fired, go home.

Come to think of it, that's 50 job openings for legal American citizens

[rumford]

Piss-bottle Jones says

if you are here illegally you can't work here legally, period. they can get as pissed as they want, that's the way it is

[hampton83]

Do you have a question?

[ricard83]

From another article,"Workers also say they aren't given enough time to do the paperwork to address the problems, which can simply be the result of misunderstandings. So the illegals are asking for 10 more years to get their paperwork in order. They had enough time to get everything done and decided to keep things as they were since the fake or stolen ID'S were working very well. Here’s a form I-9, would a fired worker come forward and fill one out, showing necessary proof? Ah, I thought not.

Illegals are all about laws only when it helps them, otherwise they disapprove of our laws.

[sayre]

"Illegals outrage over being illegal "
Tell me when you surf around the web looking for any "illegal immigrant" story, do you actually read the story? Or are you too busy foaming from the mouth that you overlook what it says in the actual story?

NO WHERE in the story does it say they are "outraged" over being "illegal". The "outrage" as you put it, is for being fired from their job. Get it right, it's the job firing and NOT being "illegal" that is "upsetting".

"Toss a tantrum", I never realized picketing was a sign of "throwing a tantrum".

Not only that, in the story it alludes to employees being "mistakenly fired", which to me indicates that some of the workers are not "illegal immigrants".
"Through interpreters, they also asked for an additional 90 days on the payroll so workers who might be fired mistakenly can gather their paperwork."
From another article,"Workers also say they aren't given enough time to do the paperwork to address the problems, which can simply be the result of misunderstandings. "Yes, people with legal status get caught up in this, they absolutely do," Cummins said."
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/50-Metro-Chipotle-Workers-Lose-Jobs-After-Audits-874683.php

I'll reiterate for you, they are NOT "MAD" over being "illegal", they ARE "MAD" over being fired and not getting paid.
To finally answer, if these people haven't gotted paid, they need to get paid, regardless of their legality in this country. If it's found that some of the workers are undocumented workers and ICE deports them, there's nothing people can do about it, it is what it is.

"Minnesota law requires that a worker be paid within 24 hours of the employee demand when that employee is involuntarily terminated. That includes a layoff, firing or business closing. There is no statutory distinction between documented workers or undocumented workers."

[adusa37]

Man and I thought Sci Fi had some flapping lips, son you get the prize, you are the queen of lip flappers. What do you got like 5 questions in the last little bit under this account?
I ain't someone that plays to well with others but one answer here is spot on. Aint' no one outraged, ain't no one having tantrums. As they said mistakes might have been made but so long as its others being screwed instead of you, what the hell right.
I always thought that in America all workers had rights and state employment laws to protect all workers. If I'm right then Shitpotle probably is within their rights as a company to let workers go but Shitpotle can't just terminate and forget, they are going to have some answers when someone asks why.
By Alesx answer I'd say the state is going to be asking just as many questions of Shitpotle as any hungry lawyers and headline starved newspapers.

[freedom97]

I'm delighted to see ICE shifting to employee paperwork audits as a means of reducing illegal immigration by enforcing employment laws. People whose paperwork is flagged are supposed to have 90 days to clarify discrepancies. This is fair and reasonable because no government database is error-free. Three months is more than enough time for anyone with legal authorization to work to prove it. For those who used false papers and are just buying time...tick tock..tick tock.