Frustrated Palauans Leave Postville

By: Claire Kellett

Photo of Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville. Photo by Mark Tade, The Gazette.

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Nov 16, 2008 at 10:47 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 16, 2008 at 10:47 PM CST

POSTVILLE - Agriprocessors is again losing a significant part of its workforce, but this time it's not because of an immigration raid. The meat packing plant recently hired more than 150 workers from Palau, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. But this weekend, the majority of those workers left, saying what they expected in Postville was far from what they found there.

Tommy Blelai and 11 of his family members rent one home in Postville. They moved from Palau to this town in far northeast Iowa to work at the Agriprocessors meat packing plant. They say the draw was promises of better wages and help getting off the ground.

"When I first came up here they told me it would take three months. After three months we would start paying everything," says Blelai.

But they say promises recruiters made never happened. And because of late paychecks, the Palauans can't pay their bills and some lost water and heat at their homes.

"It was mismanaged, it was run poorly, they took advantage of the people at every opportunity," says Jeff Abbas, a local radio dj.

Abbas, a local radio dj, has talked with a lot of the workers. He says less than a third of the 170 Palauans still live in Postville. Many have moved on to other states looking for work. Blelai believes most will be gone by the end of the month.

"They want to find permanent job, like they are sure they are working everyday," says Blelai.

Those that remain for now are getting help from people in Postville, dropping off necessities and money at the local radio station.

"I've had people come in and hand me cash donations and turn around before I can get their name," says Abbas.

Blelai says the workers appreciate the support, but that empty promises will keep the Palauans from staying in Postville.

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