Migrant workers have won a huge victory! A judge in Georgia has approved an $11.5 million agreement to settle a class action suit brought by workers with TN visas against auto giants Hyundai Mobis and Kia Georgia, as well as staffing agency Allswell and recruitment agency SPJ Connect.
Through this settlement, named plaintiffs Oswaldo, Nahum, Isidro, Heber, José, Adrián, Verónica, along with hundreds of other TN workers, received a measure of justice for the fraud and wage theft they allege occurred during their experience working either at the Hyundai Mobis or the Kia Georgia plant in the United States.
It has been an honor to stand with them throughout their journey to seek justice and to fight alongside our amazing co-counsel at Radford Scott LLP; Beal, Sutherland, Berlin & Brown, LLC; and Hall & Lampros, LLP.
TN visas are meant for professional workers from Mexico and Canada to work in professional-level, technical job positions in the United States. However, in this class action suit, TN workers alleged that Hyundai Mobis and Kia Georgia, in their respective plants, utilized the TN visa program to recruit Mexican engineers by promising them professional-level positions. Upon arrival, however, workers were allegedly subjected to excessive hours, lower wages, and responsibilities vastly different from what was originally agreed upon. And although Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing, TN workers claimed that this practice constituted an illegal scheme for cheap labor and a bait and switch accomplished by defrauding workers and the U.S. government.
But TN workers decided to speak up, fight back and seek justice for themselves and other migrant workers. And today we get to celebrate their courage, their power and this historic settlement.
All workers deserve respect, fair pay, and safety. And our labor migration system should reflect these shared values. Thank you, Oswaldo, Nahum, Isidro, Heber, José, Adrián and Verónica, for fighting this fight for fairness and justice. And to all who support them.