Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Accused of Exploiting Mentally Retarded Workers

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has completed its investigation into Henry's Turkey Service and its alleged exploitation of mentally retarded processing-plant workers.

The agency's findings have been passed on to the Muscatine County attorney's office for review. Prosecutor Dana Christensen says the findings are contained in "about 15 pounds worth of reports" that he plans to examine in the weeks ahead.

More than eight months have passed since county, state and federal authorities descended on the eastern Iowa town of Atalissa and evacuated the aging bunkhouse where dozens of disabled workers had lived over the past 34 years.

The bunkhouse was shut down shortly after The Des Moines Register asked state regulators why 21 mentally retarded men were living in what appeared to be an unlicensed care facility or group home.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor and other agencies have been looking into allegations that the Atalissa men were paid as little as 40 cents an hour for working in the West Liberty Foods plant.

Full Article and Source:
State Sends Prosecutor its Findings on Atalissa

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am outraged and I hope those responsible will be held accountable.

Those who have been exploited should get together and sue.

StandUp said...

If this is true, the owners of Henry's Turkey Service should be charged and tried as criminals.

Anonymous said...

they ought to be a shame of themselves. this company need to be shut down.