At least 2 workers fired after Indy's immigration rally

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that two individuals were fired after attending the immigration march that occured the other day.

An executive with an Indianapolis company that fired two workers this week said his firm followed its policies on attendance.

Delta Services is an environmental hazards removal and demolition company that requires 24-hour notice if an employee is going to miss work, Vice President Mike Horan said. He later said Delta has a written absenteeism and tardiness policy but declined to explain its specific requirements.

"I don't know the entire policy front to back," said Horan. "I'm not in charge of the enforcement of this policy."

Olga Aguilar said that if she'd known she'd lose her job at Delta over marching, she probably would have skipped the protest. She said she is a legal resident of Indianapolis. Aguilar, 36, called her supervisor at Delta Services on Monday to ask for permission to attend the rally. She said her supervisor told her she would be given a warning if she missed her evening shift.

Tuesday, she and another co-worker who attended the rally were fired.

"We were the only two that went, out of the entire group," Aguilar said in Spanish. "If they told us they would fire us, we probably would not have gone, but they told us we'd get a warning."

Horan said her explanation is "totally fabricated."

This is likely a story that is going to be around for a little while longer. There are most likely other employees who have not come foward yet.

Today, members of the Indiana Justice for Immigrants Coalition will go on the city's two Spanish-language radio stations to urge anyone who thinks they were wrongly terminated to come forward. Tedd Cain, an organizer with the coalition, said the group may sue the companies or take other action.

Link to article http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060413/NEWS01/604130468