Teachers from Philippines Claim Mistreatment
By: Jenna Zibton
Updated: October 1, 2009
Thousands of immigrants come to the U.S. each year looking for work. Some who live and work in Caddo Parish say they’ve been mistreated. Now the Caddo Parish School Board is launching an investigation into some serious allegations.
Forty-three teachers came to the district from the Philippines last year to fill critical shortages in special education, math, and science. President of Caddo Federation of Teachers, Jackie Lansdale tells NBC 6, before those teachers got their first paycheck they had to pay $15,000 dollars in fees. Lansdale claims the teachers also have to pay 10 percent of every paycheck to a company called, Universal Placement International. The fees amount to more than a third of the teacher’s salaries.
There are more allegations, including threats against their jobs and families. The teachers also claim they don't get to chose where they live. They say they're assigned roommates and that they pay rent directly to Universal; not the apartment complexes in which they live.
The Louisiana and American Federation of Teachers filed complaints Thursday and claim the charges involve multiple violations of state and federal laws.
NBC 6 talked to someone at Universal Placement Thursday. They said their attorney was expected in that afternoon and would get back to us.
Forty-three teachers came to the district from the Philippines last year to fill critical shortages in special education, math, and science. President of Caddo Federation of Teachers, Jackie Lansdale tells NBC 6, before those teachers got their first paycheck they had to pay $15,000 dollars in fees. Lansdale claims the teachers also have to pay 10 percent of every paycheck to a company called, Universal Placement International. The fees amount to more than a third of the teacher’s salaries.
There are more allegations, including threats against their jobs and families. The teachers also claim they don't get to chose where they live. They say they're assigned roommates and that they pay rent directly to Universal; not the apartment complexes in which they live.
The Louisiana and American Federation of Teachers filed complaints Thursday and claim the charges involve multiple violations of state and federal laws.
NBC 6 talked to someone at Universal Placement Thursday. They said their attorney was expected in that afternoon and would get back to us.
