Treatment of Hispanics enrages School Board

Terry Webster

Friday, March 24, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

Disgusting. Deplorable. Unacceptable.

Those were some of the words Clark County School Board members used to describe allegations about a local subcontractor's treatment of Hispanic workers.

Board members were disgusted -- and taken off guard -- after hearing Thursday that some nonunion workers working on school projects are still being forced to give company owners up to $280 a week in "kickbacks" in exchange for keeping their jobs.

Over 100 members of the Nevada Carpenter's Union filled the seats, hallway and lined the walls of the Clark County School Board meeting Thursday at the Education Center.

An announcement issued by the Nevada Carpenter's Union and the Las Vegas Interfaith Council for Worker Justice states kickback, wage and hour claims have been filed against the firm. Several months ago the group appeared before the board with the same complaint.

Jetstream Construction representatives at the meeting said the claims are untrue. They even said the firm offers numerous benefits for employees.

Some school officials were reluctant to remove the firm from any jobs, however, unless the allegations are found true by other agencies such as the labor department, attorney general's office and the Nevada State Contractors Board.

Superintendent Brian Cram agreed to contact the agencies to see where the investigation stands.

The union and Interfaith Council claim 14 Hispanic employees of the drywall subcontractor were ordered to give kickbacks and two were illegally fired because they refused to pay the money.

"The last time we were here, you saw a different batch of workers," said Daniel O'Shea, an organizer with the carpenters union. "Any time you guys want, we can keep marching different ones in here.

"I don't know of a single white guy in that company that has to kick back money and that should bother you. It bothers me. The guys who had to give the money back were not only Hispanic guys, but Hispanic guys who had very limited English-speaking skills.

"It's one thing to steal from people. It's another thing to pick on the weakest group, the one group that you think you can get away with it."

Board member Larry Mason said it's simply unacceptable.

Board member Susan Brager said she thought the issue had already been taken care of.

"Somebody really needs to stay on top of this," she said. "Because it's just deplorable as far as I'm concerned."

Meanwhile, the School Board requested another meeting to review TerraNova Test Scores, following a speedy presentation during the meeting. Board members also requested more in-depth information, particularly relating to minority students.

Terry Webster covers education for the Sun. She can be reached at (702) 259-4091 or by e-mail at terry@lasvegassun.com.