Headwaters Foundation moves event from D'Amicos because of worker firings

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_3662

22 May 2008

MINNEAPOLIS - The Headwaters Foundation recently joined a growing group of elected officials, religious leaders, and community members in calling on D'Amico and Partners to return 15 Latino employees to work after firing them on March 31.
On Wednesday, the progressive foundation moved its annual "Allies for Justice" dinner from the McNamara Center at the University of Minnesota, where D'Amico has the catering contract, to the Minneapolis Hilton in a show of support for the longtime D'Amico employees.

"In support of our allies and community, many of whom were concerned and conflicted about participating in an event catered by D'Amico, Headwaters made the decision to move the location," leaders of the foundation wrote in a letter announcing the change.

Headwaters is not alone in announcing its support for the workers, who filed civil rights charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in response to D'Amico's actions. Earlier this month, state legislators representing the city of Minneapolis sent letters addressed to Richard D'Amico, the company's CEO, urging him to resolve the dispute. "D'Amico and Partners has been known to be a responsible employer," the letter reads. "This action is out of character with what we know of your company." Fourteen members of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House signed the letters.

Supporters of the workers are questioning the company's reasons for demanding that workers re-verify the very work documents that D'Amico accepted when workers were first hired.

"The Social Security no-match letters D'Amico is using to justify their actions are two to four years old, and they specifically state they are not an indication of workers' immigration status and warn employers not to take any adverse action based on them" said Lisa Stratton, a lawyer who serves as Director of the Workers Rights Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School and who is familiar with the case.

FULL story at link.