Harkin plans hearings on Iowa workers
February 16th, 2009From the Des Moines Register:
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is planning congressional hearings over the alleged exploitation of workers with intellectual disabilities for decades at an Iowa meat processing plant.
The scandal began last week when the Des Moines Register reported that Henry’s Turkey Service, a Texas company, was paying 21 workers as little as 44 cents an hour to work in the Iowa plant. The company was housing the men in a 106-year-old bunkhouse with windows that were boarded up to keep out the cold.
“This is pretty close to slavery,” Harkin said. “It should shock all our consciences that something like this would go on in this day and age.”
“It looks like indentured servitude,” said Peter Berns, executive director of The Arc …
See also:
2 brokers got thousands for using men – Des Moines Register
Legislators summon Atalissa officials about unlicensed care center – Des Moines Register
What Atalissa, state knew about the bunkhouse – Des Moines Register
Texans’ Iowa case horrifies advocates for the disabled – Houston Chronicle
Neighbors: Mentally disabled Texas workers lived well – Houston Chronicle
Our RSS Feed