American Apparel to Terminate 1,500 Undocumented Workers
Filed under: News
American Apparel's tee supporting immigration reform. Photo: American Apparel
Legal headaches seem to be as ubiquitous at American Apparel as gold lame leggings in a hipster bar.
In July, we told you about the company being cited for employing undocumented workers following an inspection by the U.S. Immirations and Customs Enforcement Agency. As a result, the Los Angeles-based retail and manufacturing giant has just announced that it will be letting go of roughly 1,500 workers who cannot prove their immigration status, the Los Angeles Times reports.
American Apparel, known as much for its sexually suggestive ads as its cotton ringer tees, will also be dismissing workers whose employment records have problematic errors, such as fake Social Security numbers, the paper reports. All targeted employees will come from the company's downtown L.A. manufacturing facility.
Peter Schey, a lawyer for American Apparel, told the Los Angeles Times that about 1,500 workers would be on the chopping block this month. Schey added that American Apparel "is very disappointed and disheartened at having to terminate a very large number of workers who by and large have been reliable contributors to the success of the company."
In a statement to employees obtained by the paper, controversial American Apparel founder and CEO Dov Charney seconded those sentiments.
"Many of you have been with me for so many years, and I just cry when I think that so many people will be leaving the company," Charney wrote, according to the paper. "It is my belief that immigrants bring prosperity to any economy."
The company, which has been outspoken in the past for its pro-immigration stance and employment practices, even making a "Legalize LA!" tee to support immigrants, has told dismissed employees that they will be offered "priority treatment" for jobs once their immigration papers are deemed satisfactory, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The mass termination is yet another major blow to the company, which is still licking its wounds from a $5 million dollar settlement for director Woody Allen, who filed suit after seeing his image used without permission in American Apparel ads.
And as we reported earlier today, a UK ad authority banned an American Apparel ad featuring a young woman in a suggestive pose, deeming it indecent as she "appeared to be a child."
For more on Dov Charney's legal woes, click here.
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Spammer 9-07-2009 @ 10:43PM
Stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
lnarro 9-07-2009 @ 8:10PM
AMERICAN APPAREL? THIS COMPANY KNOWING HIRES ILLEGAL WORKERS, NOW EXPOSED DECIDES TO LET THEM GO. WHY HIRE THEM FIRST, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NAME OF THIS COMPANY. BOYCOTT, PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS WHERE THEY BELONG.
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Bridgette 9-07-2009 @ 8:23PM
I am sick and tired of American jobs being given to illegal imigrants. It shows what is really in the minds of the rich. Take advantage to get ahead. Although they are so selfish that they can't see the big picture. Higher taxes for all of us due to these illiagals not paying their fair share of taxes, healthcare etc. We need our government to enforce the boarders. Throw out all that don't belong. And slow down legal immigration in this time of extreme economic down turn. American Workers First!!!
Tword 9-07-2009 @ 9:23PM
Here here-you got that right. Our state is failing under the weight of the financial burdens of those who receive services here who are not legal citizens, and do not pay taxes. Wake up America.
maxiesmom067 9-07-2009 @ 9:53PM
TOO LITTLE TOO LATE. BOYCOTT THESE ANTI-AMERICAN BASTARDS RIGHT OUT OF BUSINESS! AND IT IS MY SINCEREST HOPE THAT ALL 1500 ARE IMMEDIATELY BRANDED "ILLEGAL" ON THEIR FOREHEADS AND ROUGHLY BOOTED BACK TO THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE BORDER!
sal 9-07-2009 @ 10:44PM
The fired personnel will be back at work at the same place in a couple of weeks. They have been trained and they will just wait for things to cool down.
AlabamaRedNeck 9-08-2009 @ 12:49AM
Quick way to stop companies hiring illegals: Fine them $10,000 per illegal employee times the number of days they worked! TYSON Chicken would be bankrupt in a week! I'll NOT buy any product made by this company since the CEO is whinning about the 'loss' of these 'good employees'! Hire AMERICANS and pay them more than minimum wage and you have better employees!
MightyMouth 9-08-2009 @ 12:51AM
Remember whem all those wet backs were protesting? I wanted to go out with a sign that said, "What part fo "Illegal" don't you understand, or do I need to say it in Spanish?"
vianeypalooza 9-08-2009 @ 1:00AM
I'm sick to my stomach at reading how ignorant some ppl are. Illegals can't vote and many do pay taxes with an ITIN- look it up. They don't live here for free, contrary to many's beliefs. It is not their fault the economy is in the state that it is; please ppl, go read a newspaper before you comment.
Analyze This 9-07-2009 @ 8:12PM
There's 1,500 lost Obama votes for 2012! He better hurry up and grant them free citizenship before it's too late.
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victoyia 9-20-2009 @ 10:45AM
haha Isn't THAT the truth? American jobs for AMerican workers! Where ELSE is Obama going to get his taxpayers money to cover the $3 Trillion he just gave away??? From ILLEGAL workers??? Really?...think again, AMerica! We have our OWN problems... Illegals go home.
chris 9-07-2009 @ 9:49PM
these illegals may be fired for now but that wont stop them from being allowed to vote that needs to be stopped to a lot of people voted that should not have been able to vote thats how this man won
whatever 9-07-2009 @ 9:21PM
HOW CAN THEY VOTE???????????THEY ARE ILLEGAL. THEY NEED TO GO HOME!!!!!LET AMERICANS HAVE THE JOB!
delacourte 9-07-2009 @ 10:20PM
Your post shows how ignorant and stupid you are. Illegal immigrants can not vote in this country. Perhaps you should go back to school and learn about voting rights--or would that interfere with your KKK meetings?
AmericanMade138 9-07-2009 @ 10:55PM
Help fight illegal immigration , go to wehirealiens.com .
pat 9-08-2009 @ 1:37AM
you said it all
Rocky 9-07-2009 @ 8:32PM
It is about time somebody did something right to begin with secondly some other cheap pay company looking to make big bucks for CEO's will hire them anyway.
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danno 9-07-2009 @ 8:28PM
Well only 30 million more to go....good luck ICE FINDING THESE ELUSIVE ILLEGAL'S...
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