Immigration's Silent Victim
Recently the Charlotte Observer investigated a poultry processing plant based in South Carolina to observe the employee makeup and the risks they were subject to. Throughout the course of the investigation, reporters unsurprisingly noticed that many of the workers were Hispanic. What did appall them, however, was the physical toll the job was taking on the bodies of many of these workers, and how management of the plant appeared to be exploiting the immigration status of the workers, thereby keeping company overhead minimized. One of the personal stories reported by the newspaper told of the difficulties of Karina Zorita, who entered the United States illegally and obtained a job at the plant’s branch in Eastern North Carolina. After about six months at her job, Karina could no longer bear the burning pain in her fingers that resulted from the repetitive motions her job demanded. She had been to see the company nurse, who sent her back to work, and even after she had visited a doctor not employed by her company, Karina’s supervisor denied the lighter duty the doctor prescribed. The pain worsened, causing her to take three weeks off work. When she returned, she was told she was no longer employed; she had missed too much time, regardless of the fact that two of the three weeks she missed were paid. Unemployed, she still is unable to straighten her fingers, cannot grasp even a cup of water, and may lose hand function altogether. She is young, has small children, and hands that “don’t work anymore.” There are many stories similar to Karina’s, and while there are a number of legitimate concerns resulting from seemingly uncontrolled immigration into the United States, an often overlooked and alarming problem is the exposure of the disintegrating state of American employer ethics. Immigration regulation must be reformed, if for no other reason, to help prevent the development of a new subclass of poorly treated human beings.
As in Karina’s case, many Hispanic immigrants send a large portion of their American wages home to their families. Karina was sending $150 dollars per week to her mother, who was caring for Karina’s children. What makes this so astounding is that these workers are employed in low paying jobs, making hourly wages many Americans would never consider. Employers generally pay less money for jobs that require fewer qualifications, jobs that primarily rely on physical labor and a willingness to work. Education often figures heavily into the qualification equation, and because of their education status, many Hispanic immigrants, particularly illegal immigrants, have few employment options outside of those that require physical labor and offer lower pay. They do not often complain about receiving what Americans would consider minimal pay because the pay is still usually greater than it would be in their own countries. Employers are able to take advantage of immigrants’ willingness to work for less money and reduce their own overhead. In fact, due to cultural differences, employers may even feel that they not only save money in payroll, but also get greater production from immigrant labor than they would from Americans who seem to have grown into a culture always demanding more for less. Many employers are more than willing to hire immigrants, even if they are in the United States illegally, in order to keep productivity high and overhead expenses low.
Unfortunately, however, these physical jobs are known to be rather demanding on the body. We may consider, for example, many of the jobs in a poultry plant. In processes of removing bones, shearing, and cutting various poultry parts, employees may make the same repetitive motions some 20,000 times each shift, according to the Charlotte Observer’s report. Recently, Duke University released a study in which 43% of the 300 poultry workers interviewed reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. While these problems may be treated much of the time, they must first be diagnosed. However, the Charlotte Observer reporters found that when employees took their concerns to the attention of their supervisors, they were, in so many words, told to ignore their problems and get back to work. In fact, Doctor Jorge Garcia, who works at a medical practice in South Carolina, told reporters he has seen about 1,000 poultry workers in the past seven years, and is frequently asked by his patients not to tell the plant operators he had been consulted. They are afraid they will lose their jobs. While a response from plant operators should be allowed, it may be perfectly clear why employers at high-risk jobs frown upon employees visiting medical professionals; medical care is expensive. As mentioned above, employers envy demonstrating large positive gaps between production and expenses. Earlier I stated that payroll is the most controllable expense, but perhaps it would be more precise to say employee compensation in general is most controllable. Even if a company has to pay an employee two or three dollars above minimal wage, avoiding medical expenses, especially related to company liability, is a sure way to keep overhead from consuming fiscal profits. This figures in quite easily for employers of illegal immigrants, since employers can refuse medical care by threatening loss of job, or, worse, authority notification and deportation.
If one were to ask a number of American citizens what complications result from illegal immigration, he or she would likely get a varying array of responses, perhaps including lack of jobs for citizens, overcrowded schools, and potential increases in crime. Surely there are news stories and research statistics that qualify these responses, but should we not take notice of what immigration is telling us about ourselves? When someone crosses our boarder and takes up residence illegally, a crime has been committed by that person and he or she should be held accountable. After all, the term “illegal immigration” was so named purposely, and broken laws must be met with consequence in order to retain any meaning. Still, it should not be overlooked that many employers are profiting from this epidemic of crime at the expense of the health of others. Rick Thames, editor of the Charlotte Observer, compared the subclass developing by this situation to that created by slavery in America’s history. While I am not certain that is the best analogy, it does have some legitimate parallels, as people are being taken advantage of in an unacceptable manner. If immigration described the process of some inanimate objects falling from the atmosphere on to American soil, we could very well use immigrants for whatever purpose best suits us. Immigrants are not inanimate objects, though; they are human beings in every way just like American citizens and, while their illegal actions should be met with the appropriate consequences, their human qualities should be met with human consideration. The controversial occurrence of immigration has caused a number of problems and even tragedies in our society, but it has also exposed a problem of long existence within ourselves. That American people could conceivably exploit the poor decisions and disadvantages of other human beings for the sake of the financial bottom line is shameful in every way. Laws may not change the nature of man, but they may minimize the damages done by that nature if they reduce the opportunity. If the United States does not take the necessary steps to control its immigration problem, American citizens may find themselves having gained very temporary success by having passively inflicted very lasting pain.
Submitted to Alicia McCullough, Argument Based Research, February 22, 2008.
As in Karina’s case, many Hispanic immigrants send a large portion of their American wages home to their families. Karina was sending $150 dollars per week to her mother, who was caring for Karina’s children. What makes this so astounding is that these workers are employed in low paying jobs, making hourly wages many Americans would never consider. Employers generally pay less money for jobs that require fewer qualifications, jobs that primarily rely on physical labor and a willingness to work. Education often figures heavily into the qualification equation, and because of their education status, many Hispanic immigrants, particularly illegal immigrants, have few employment options outside of those that require physical labor and offer lower pay. They do not often complain about receiving what Americans would consider minimal pay because the pay is still usually greater than it would be in their own countries. Employers are able to take advantage of immigrants’ willingness to work for less money and reduce their own overhead. In fact, due to cultural differences, employers may even feel that they not only save money in payroll, but also get greater production from immigrant labor than they would from Americans who seem to have grown into a culture always demanding more for less. Many employers are more than willing to hire immigrants, even if they are in the United States illegally, in order to keep productivity high and overhead expenses low.
Unfortunately, however, these physical jobs are known to be rather demanding on the body. We may consider, for example, many of the jobs in a poultry plant. In processes of removing bones, shearing, and cutting various poultry parts, employees may make the same repetitive motions some 20,000 times each shift, according to the Charlotte Observer’s report. Recently, Duke University released a study in which 43% of the 300 poultry workers interviewed reported symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders. While these problems may be treated much of the time, they must first be diagnosed. However, the Charlotte Observer reporters found that when employees took their concerns to the attention of their supervisors, they were, in so many words, told to ignore their problems and get back to work. In fact, Doctor Jorge Garcia, who works at a medical practice in South Carolina, told reporters he has seen about 1,000 poultry workers in the past seven years, and is frequently asked by his patients not to tell the plant operators he had been consulted. They are afraid they will lose their jobs. While a response from plant operators should be allowed, it may be perfectly clear why employers at high-risk jobs frown upon employees visiting medical professionals; medical care is expensive. As mentioned above, employers envy demonstrating large positive gaps between production and expenses. Earlier I stated that payroll is the most controllable expense, but perhaps it would be more precise to say employee compensation in general is most controllable. Even if a company has to pay an employee two or three dollars above minimal wage, avoiding medical expenses, especially related to company liability, is a sure way to keep overhead from consuming fiscal profits. This figures in quite easily for employers of illegal immigrants, since employers can refuse medical care by threatening loss of job, or, worse, authority notification and deportation.
If one were to ask a number of American citizens what complications result from illegal immigration, he or she would likely get a varying array of responses, perhaps including lack of jobs for citizens, overcrowded schools, and potential increases in crime. Surely there are news stories and research statistics that qualify these responses, but should we not take notice of what immigration is telling us about ourselves? When someone crosses our boarder and takes up residence illegally, a crime has been committed by that person and he or she should be held accountable. After all, the term “illegal immigration” was so named purposely, and broken laws must be met with consequence in order to retain any meaning. Still, it should not be overlooked that many employers are profiting from this epidemic of crime at the expense of the health of others. Rick Thames, editor of the Charlotte Observer, compared the subclass developing by this situation to that created by slavery in America’s history. While I am not certain that is the best analogy, it does have some legitimate parallels, as people are being taken advantage of in an unacceptable manner. If immigration described the process of some inanimate objects falling from the atmosphere on to American soil, we could very well use immigrants for whatever purpose best suits us. Immigrants are not inanimate objects, though; they are human beings in every way just like American citizens and, while their illegal actions should be met with the appropriate consequences, their human qualities should be met with human consideration. The controversial occurrence of immigration has caused a number of problems and even tragedies in our society, but it has also exposed a problem of long existence within ourselves. That American people could conceivably exploit the poor decisions and disadvantages of other human beings for the sake of the financial bottom line is shameful in every way. Laws may not change the nature of man, but they may minimize the damages done by that nature if they reduce the opportunity. If the United States does not take the necessary steps to control its immigration problem, American citizens may find themselves having gained very temporary success by having passively inflicted very lasting pain.
Submitted to Alicia McCullough, Argument Based Research, February 22, 2008.
posted by Jonathan Branch at 12:30 PM
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