or Sign In
Join
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Origins
    • Victories
  • Latest News
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Home /
  • Tags

Pages tagged "McAllen"

Posted on Latest News by Valley Interfaith · January 22, 2020 2:13 PM

In Wake of Wage Theft, Valley Interfaith Calls for Incentives Reform and Investigations

In small group conversations organized through their congregations, Valley Interfaith leaders Elisa Alfaro of Holy Spirit parish and Dayra Campos of San Juan Diego kept hearing the same stories: workers in cold storage facilities earning less than the minimum wage and experiencing rampant labor abuse. 

While the federal minimum wage is $7.25, parishioners shared that they are often paid less than half that by McAllen producers.  When one company closed access to the bathroom for employees, they were forced to walk 10 minutes to a gas station for their bathroom break.  Another parishioner shared constant threats by their boss if they were to admit to working 10 hours per day for $600 per month (less than half the minimum wage).   

In response, Valley Interfaith leaders are calling on the City of McAllen to ensure that no company that pays workers under the minimum wage, or is guilty of wage theft, receives incentives from the city.  They are also calling on the City to investigate abusive labor practices. Leaders are now meeting with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and McAllen City Manager about making these changes.   

"Nobody should earn a slave wage," said Elisa Alfaro.

[Image Credit: KVEO footage]

Faith Leaders, Lawyer: Wage Theft Rampant at Local Cold Storage Facilities, The Monitor [pdf] 

Produce Industry Wage Dispute, KVEO [pdf]

Fair Pay a Distant Dream for Produce Packers in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio Express-News

  • Sign in

Valley Interfaith

© 2025 CityZen & NationBuilder - Some rights reserved

Who We Are
Origins
Victories
Latest News
Contact
Donate
Sign in with email.

Created with NationBuilder - Theme by Tectonica