Settlement Reached on Pension Payments for Mexican Workers in U.S. (legal, San Francisco) - City-Data Forum

Benicar · 02-07-2009, 02:44 PM

Right is right, and wrong is wrong. It’s a disgrace that these men have had to wait so many years to receive what is rightfully theirs. I just hope the lawyers don’t swindle them out of the bulk of their pension. I only have one issue -- I don’t understand why they stipulated they must currently reside in the US. Their place of residence should be irrelevant.

Quote:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
2:00 a.m. February 7, 2009
FRESNO — After years of political pressure and legal wrangling, a court settlement reached yesterday allows Mexican laborers brought in to stem World War II-era labor shortages to collect on pension funds they earned decades ago.

The class-action suit brought on behalf of the workers was settled in a federal court in San Francisco. It will allow thousands of graying former guest workers who manned U.S. farms and rail yards to collect earnings withheld from their paychecks and sent to Mexican banks under an agreement between both countries.

Gonzalo Trejo, 76, a grandfather in Irving, Tex., said he hoped the money he made as a young man thinning sugar beets in Colorado would help him grow old a little more comfortably. “We went back to Mexico when they kicked us out of this country, but we never knew what happened to the money,” said Trejo, who came up from the Mexican state of Chihuahua to work four grueling seasons in the fields. “Who knows why it took so long, but I'm really happy.”

In October, Mexico's Foreign Ministry agreed to pay about $14.5 million to the first wave of workers, provided they or their immediate family were living in the United States.

About 6,100 former braceros, or their family members, will be able to collect about $3,500 each in lost wages from the Mexican government, said Chicago-based attorney Josh Karsh.

It is unknown how many braceros are still alive, and activists estimate hundreds weren't able to reclaim their money because they lacked the original paperwork or proper identification.

Settlement reached on pension payments for 1940s-era Mexican workers in U.S.

1AngryTaxPayer · 02-07-2009, 02:49 PM

First off, how was a pension even figured into the equation in the first place? But yes, if they were owed that money it shouldn't matter where they live, just pay them.

I just don't see how the opportunity to work wasn't enough payment. It's a lot more than what they had previously.

I am not surprised though with the whole theme of how govt does business.

Huckleberry3911948 · 02-07-2009, 02:52 PM

its not about right wrong or who did what, its all about how good just how good that lawyer is.

Benicar · 02-07-2009, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

First off, how was a pension even figured into the equation in the first place? But yes, if they were owed that money it shouldn't matter where they live, just pay them.

I just don't see how the opportunity to work wasn't enough payment. It's a lot more than what they had previously.

I am not surprised though with the whole theme of how govt does business.

They said the money was withheld from their pay. Apparently, the US agreed to withhold X amount and forward it to Mexico. I guess that explains why they never received it.

1AngryTaxPayer · 02-07-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benicar

They said the money was withheld from their pay. Apparently, the US agreed to withhold X amount and forward it to Mexico. I guess that explains why they never received it.

Doesn't this sound like the remittance mess we are in now? At least back then social services couldn't be plundered.

If anything like the Bracero program is started again they need to have a real outline of what happens. What a mess.