TEXT D Workers recently arrested
in federal raids filed a racketeering lawsuit accusing Wal-Mart of conspiring
with contractors in a criminal enterprise that violated the civil rights and
wage protections of immigrants who cleaned its stores. The
federal court lawsuit seeks class-action status for perhaps thousands of
immigrants, legal and illegal, hired by the contractors to clean the stores of
the world’s largest retailer, said a lawyer for the plaintiffs, James L.
Linsey. The scheme by Wal-Mart and the contractors violated the
Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, by
systematically depriving the workers of labor law protections over at least the
last three years, according to the lawsuit. "It’s all designed
to exploit the weakest, most vulnerable people in the world," Linsey said
Tuesday, a day after the lawsuit was filed. He said the action replaces a
lawsuit filed in state Superior Court last week by the same workers that sought
more than $ 200,000 in back pay. Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona
Williams said the claims have no merit and the company will seek to have the
lawsuit dismissed. "The Wal-Mart culture is based on respect for
other people. and we would never condone treating anyone poorly, legal or
otherwise. We want to get to the bottom of this and are as eager as anyone to
see whatever evidence federal officials might have," Williams said. She said
some 700 of its 3,000 U.S. stores are now cleaned by outside contractors, down
from 1,500 several years ago. The company acknowledged last week
that federal prosecutors gave notice it is the target of a criminal
investigation into the hiring of illegal immigrants. An employer
can face civil and criminal penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants or
failing to comply with certain employee record-keeping regulations.
The nine workers, who cleaned stores in New Jersey, maintain they were
denied overtime pay despite working at least 56 hours a week and that
contractors failed to withhold taxes or make required workers’ compensation
contributions. Also sued were four New Jersey contracting firms
and their principals: Facility Solutions Inc., whose location was not
immediately clear, and owner Kenneth Clancy; Ruth and Sons, no location given,
and principal Giovanni Alabena; JWM Commercial Cleaning, of Dover, Morris
County, and owner Felipe Soto; and RT Cleaning, of New Brunswick, and owner Raul
Tijerino. None of the companies had listed phones. What does the last paragraph imply
A．These contracting firms are not willing to tell people about their information. B．The four firms are not as famous as Wal-Mart, the great retailer. C．The four firms want to avoid public attention. D．The four firms are very suspicious because no clear information can be found about them.