The Hindu : Indian workers sue U.S. firm

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

International

International - India & World

Indian workers sue U.S. firm

SILICON VALLEY SEPT. 9. Scores of Indian immigrant workers appeared in a federal courtroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, alleging that a local manufacturer held them in virtual slavery.

The 52 skilled workers, including welders, fitters and electricians, have accused the John Pickle Co., a $15-million manufacturer of specialised oil industry equipment, of paying them less than the minimum wages and confining them to the factory dormitory against their will.

In his opening statement, the workers' attorney, Robert Canino, compared his clients' situation to those in John Steinbeck's ``Grapes of Wrath'', which depicts the lives of migrant workers who travelled from Oklahoma to California during the `Great Depression'. ``They can easily be given a place to live and a little bit of food. They might not know what they were missing and that's exactly what happened to the folks coming from India,'' the television KOTV reported.

``No comments," said John Pickle and his defence team as they walked out of Tulsa's Federal Building. Mr. Pickle's lawyers say the immigrants, who were brought here from India to work for the John Pickle Company, were trainees and not employees. And the Fair Labour Standards Act did not necessarily entitle them to minimum wage. — PTI

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