Strikers Accuse Firm in a Letter to INS of Hiring Illegal Aliens

Striking workers at Alex Snack Foods in Anaheim--most of whom are Mexican aliens--have accused the company of hiring of illegal aliens as strikebreakers and urged an investigation by immigration officials, a spokesman for the employees said Wednesday.

The spokesman, Jesus Castro Nunez, said most of the 70 striking employees want the INS to raid the company “as an example” of tougher enforcement against employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.

Nunez said a letter was sent to Harold Ezell, regional commissioner for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, accusing Alex Foods of “knowingly hiring” about 65 illegal aliens.

“We wouldn’t mind if they bring buses to come and get them,” one of the strikers said in Spanish.

Ironically, several years ago, many of the striking employees, who are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 551, spent most of their time avoiding INS detection, Nunez said.

But since many members have become permanent residents and have either qualified, applied for or intend to apply for amnesty under the new Immigration Reform Act, “we feel the law is on our side,” he said.

“The company has acted in total disregard of the prohibition of hiring unauthorized aliens,” Nunez said.

A spokesman for Alex Foods could not be reached for comment.

INS confirmed receiving the letter Wednesday. The letter will be reviewed by an INS investigations unit, said Robert Moschorak, INS associate regional commissioner in San Pedro.

Moschorak did not comment on the accusations about Alex Foods but said INS is prepared to enforce employer sanctions for hiring illegal aliens.

“We’re prepared to issue citations and bring fines and proceedings against employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens,” Moschorak said.

Striking workers said they have pleaded in Spanish to strikebreakers not to continue working at the company, but “they don’t care about us, they’d rather work,” said Salvador Maciel, who on Wednesday was picketing the company.

Nunez said: “Those people (strikebreakers) don’t have any respect for us and our cause. They’re now getting lower pay than we ever got and also absolutely no benefits.”

In an accompanying letter to INS signed by about 50 striking employees, a copy of which was obtained by The Times, the striking employees stated their belief that their situation is unique.

“Unique in the sense that we are not reporting undocumented aliens,” the letter said, but rather a company that the letter said is deliberately hiring undocumented aliens “in order to break a strike.”

About 70 workers struck May 7 after contract talks broke off. In a bid to save money, the company slashed pay for most of its employees, some by 41%, and eliminated all health benefits.

Steve Charton, a director and officer of the company, has said that the company expects that most of its lower-paid workers, including some who have been employed at the plant for 30 years, will quit rather than continue to work for lower wages and benefits.