TX Company accused of exploiting disabled; state closes home

[EV_Ares]

Atalissa, Ia. — Federal police, state health inspectors and county prosecutors descended on this eastern Iowa town over the weekend, launching a major investigation into the care and treatment of a group of mentally retarded men and ordering an emergency evacuation of the men's living quarters.

The investigation focuses on Henry's Turkey Service, a Texas-based company that for 34 years has employed dozens of mentally retarded men who work at the West Liberty Foods meat-processing plant in Muscatine County.

Since the late 1970s, Henry's Turkey Service has been shipping mentally retarded men from Texas to Iowa to work in the West Liberty plant. Henry's has acted as the workers' employer, landlord and caregiver — paying the men a reduced wage for their work at the plant and then deducting from their pay the cost of room, board and care. Payroll records indicate the men are left with as little as $65 per month in salary.


link for entire story: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090208/NEWS/902080344

[jwirr]

1. As the mother of a developmentally disabled daughter and a long

time member of the ARC I am somewhat familiar with the attitude toward this group in Texas. I am sure Texas encouraged the exporting of this group from their state because they do not want them. I am surprised that Iowa has allowed this because they have a totally different attitude. This is the same scam that happens when companies bring immigrants from other countries like the former USSR stans to work here and treat them the same way. When one of the hotels in our community tried this the churches and the unions took the workers and helped them find better jobs until it was time for them to go back. The hotel never tried it again.

[Frustratedlady]

2. I am also surprised Iowa allowed this, unless they didn't know about it.

They should be charged. I'm writing to Grassley to see what this is all about.