Evaluating The Labor Department In New Orleans: DOL’s Performance In Investigating and Prosecuting Wage and Hour Violations And Protecting Guest Workers
TODAY
Washington,
Oct 29, 2007 -
This hearing continues an investigation that began earlier this year into the adequacy of labor law enforcement in New Orleans during the period following Hurricane Katrina. The field hearing will take a closer look at the performance of the New Orleans District Office of the US Department of Labor since the hurricane.
Monday, October 29, 2007 10 a.m. Loyola Law School Room 308 536 Pine Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
After Hurricane Katrina, President Bush suspended Davis-Bacon wage
requirements in the hurricane-affected region. A number of other labor
law requirements were also suspended by executive order and
administrative action. At the same time, billions of federal dollars
flowed into the region to fund clean up and reconstruction. Immigrant
labor also increased.
The Subcommittee held its first hearing on June 26, where it heard from
workers and advocates that a “Wild, Wild West” atmosphere prevailed,
and many workers were denied wages and overtime by employers in
violation of the law. The hearing also examined the role of the Wage
and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor in investigating and
prosecuting these violations.
Witnesses for the hearing include:
Panel I • Professor Luz Molina, Clinical Professor, Law Clinic and Center for Social Justice, Loyola Law School • Mr. Jeffrey Steele, Former clean-up worker in New Orleans • Mr. Tyrone Wilson, Former clean-up worker in New Orleans • Mr. Alfred McQuirter, Former clean-up worker in New Orleans • Mr. Rodney Smith, Former clean-up worker in New Orleans • Mr. Jaime Games, Guest Worker
Panel II • Mr. Sabulal Vijayan, Guest Worker • Ms. Maria Eugenia, Guest Worker • Mr. Rolando Sanchez, Guest Worker • Mr. Axel Landivar, Guest Worker • Mr. Daniel Castellanos, Former Guest Worker and Organizer with the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice
Panel III • Ms. Barbara Hicks, Director, Wage and Hour Division, Employment Standards Administration, Department of Labor District Office, New Orleans
