WAR AGAINST ALL PUERTO RICANS
Revolution and Terror in America’s Colony
Puerto Ricans are being sold into slavery in Alaska
Yes, this language is inflammatory. But it is dead accurate.
Read this article slowly. Watch the corporate video inside it. Listen to every word from the president of the company…and then decide for yourself, if that is not EXACTLY what’s being done to these young Puerto Ricans. They are being sold into slavery.
THE TIMING IS PERFECT
With a $4.25 minimum wage just around the corner, a company will soon ride into Puerto Rico with a much better deal. It will offer jobs at $9.75 – plus overtime – and a chance to see Alaska !
Both the $9.75 and the overtime are at rock-bottom Alaska minimum wage – not a penny more – but hey…it’s better than $4.25!
http://labor.alaska.gov/lss/whact.htm
The generous company, Westward Seafoods, Inc., will recruit Puerto Rican workers on Sept. 2 and 3 in a hotel in San Juan.
So what kind of jobs are these?
AMAKNAK ISLAND
Let’s start with the location. The Westward Seafoods plant is in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
Where is that?
It’s on the ragged edge of Alaska…in the freezing waters of the Bering Sea…on a tiny island named Amaknak.
The entire island is only 3.3 square miles, with roughly 2,500 people on it.
There are no bridges to this frozen island. The only way to get there is by airplane.
Here is an aerial view of Amaknak…the first view our Puerto Rican workers will have of their new home:
Amaknak is a dark place. It snows or rains continuously, roughly 225 days out of the year.
The nearest major city – Anchorage – is 800 miles away.
The nearest hospital is also 800 miles away.
God help you if you get sick, or are seriously injured.
When you work on this island for Westward Seafoods, it’s not just a job. It’s an adventure.
JOB CONDITIONS
The Puerto Rican workers will kill, skin, gut, slice, behead, and stuff fish into frozen containers.
The job notice makes it very clear, that they will work a minimum of 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, during the whole time they are on the island.
Please read those words again: 12 hours a day. 7 days a week. Minimum.
http://puertorico.craigslist.org/lab/5705752099.html?lang=en&cc=us
This is the minimum, because when lots of fish come through…
The employees have to work 18-HOUR SHIFTS…BACK TO BACK…EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Sometimes for more than a WEEK…and as much as THREE WEEKS!
The company website makes the reason for these 18-hour shifts very clear: because Westward Seafoods processes 254,000,000 pounds of fish – more than a quarter BILLION pounds – at their Dutch Harbor facility every year.
https://www.westwardseafoods.com/company.php
If any workers are late or miss a few shifts, they get fired on the spot…and Westward Seafoods will NOT pay their plane ticket off the island. So if a worker gets fired, they must suddenly pay their own plane fare to Anchorage, then to Seattle, and then home.
It’s 800 miles to Anchorage. The entire plane trip to home, can cost over $1,000.
For this reason, employees are terrified of getting fired at Westward Seafoods.
Worker beheading a fish at Westward Seafoods, Inc.
Men and women are working inhuman hours, falling asleep on their feet, risking their lives on the fish-cutting machines.
They can lose a finger…a hand…a whole arm…and the nearest hospital is 800 miles away, in Anchorage, Alaska.
AN ASTOUNDING VIDEO
Most astounding of all, is a video produced by the company itself. It describes the job, the working conditions, and the “career opportunities” at Westward Seafoods.
https://www.westwardseafoods.com/employment-video.php
It shows you the dangerous work environment, and the prison-style barracks where the workers all sleep together.
It has candid interviews with workers: three of whom emphasize the agony of back-to-back 18 hour shifts. One of them – a woman – would like to “get a break” because she’s been working 18 hours a day, every day, for the past week.
She worked 18 hours a day, 7 days a week
Most candid of all is the company spokesman…
Who says that all the workers must be “able to lift 50-pound boxes every 10 seconds, for the entirety of their shift.”
Then the spokesman admits and emphasizes that if workers resist the back-to-back 18-hour shifts, Westward will fire them…send them home without a plane ticket…and give them one hour to get off the company premises.
WHO IS BEHIND THIS IN PUERTO RICO?
In a few weeks, Westward Seafoods will occupy an elegant San Juan hotel, to offer this “employment opportunity” to young workers in Puerto Rico.
The “opportunity” has already received attention in the Puerto Rico press.
http://www.metro.pr/economia/buscan-boricuas-para-trabajar-en-alaska/pGXphd!9d1FBNUNbXa2/
Local web sites are promoting the event:
https://puertorico.craigslist.org/lab/5705752759.html
It is important to know if Alberto Baco Bagué (the ex-Secretary of Economic Development), Vance Thomas (Secretary of Labor and Human Resources), or anyone in the Commonwealth government encouraged or “facilitated” the Westward Seafoods recruitment of Puerto Rican workers.
They certainly have not opposed it, or spoken out against it…not even once.
This is disturbing, because it suggests a quiet approval – a wink and a nod – for duping Puerto Rican workers off the island and into indentured servitude.
Many of us still remember how 5,000 sugarcane workers were similarly hijacked to Hawaii in 1900-1901. Now 116 years later, they’re still doing it – in broad daylight, with wide publicity and government acquiescence.
AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN REVERSE
This bitter servitude is comparable to Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, Emile Zola’s Germinal, and Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. But there is an additional component to this.
After 118 years as a US colony and 99 years as US citizens, after fighting and dying in every US war since World War I, Puerto Ricans are still being railroaded and treated as second-class citizens.
We get our land stolen, our currency devalued, a Jones Act for 96 years, our leaders imprisoned and killed, 100,000 carpetas, Gag Laws, predatory loans, and a Financial Control Board.
And now – with the economy on its knees, people desperate for work, and the threat of a $4.25 minimum wage – our young people are offered a one-way ticket to Alaska…
Struggling through a Dutch Harbor blizzard, after another long shift
Where they can work with knives and dangerous machinery 126 hours a week for minimum wage…
On a frozen island 5,600 miles away from Puerto Rico…
With the nearest hospital 800 miles away…
And if they don’t work 126 hours, or whatever hours are demanded from them…
They are fired without a plane ticket, with one hour to leave the premises.
This is the “life” they offer to our young people.
Tell me it’s not slavery.
For a history of the War Against All Puerto Ricans, read the book…
Si prefiere ver la página web en español por favor visite: http://www.guerracontratodoslospuertorriquenos.com
WAR AGAINST ALL PUERTO RICANS 
If I was young and healthy, I would jump at the chance for a job like this. You make over $20,000 in three months, and no expenses. Come home and buy a nice car with cash, or use it for a down payment on a house. Plus you can still work the rest of the year. It is a very good way for young people to get a head start on life. The bullshit about hospitals being far away is the simple reality of the location. If you get hurt, no doubt they would fly you out. I know many commercial fishermen and they work way harder than this while seasick and nauseous, and face a high risk of death. Life is not easy. Nothing is hidden here. This is not slavery. You don’t expect a company to fly you 5000 miles, fed and house you, and then fly back if you refuse to work? The overtime pay is exactly what you want. This as an opportunity. Do this one season and I’ll bet some fly back on their own ticket to find work on a fishing boats offshore. It is brutal hard work, and pays commensurate with that. So if you are lazy, stay home. This is serious work and physically demanding. Not slavery. Not for quitters, and you will impress people when you make it to the end.
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We need to keep ricans from being sent to such a place. Reminds me of voluntary imprisonment due to economic hardship!?
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This is horrible. How are Puerto Ricans any less “American” than I am? I have relatives in the DAR and all that, but I am not any more “American” than the American Citizens of PR. When some of us are hurt, all of us are hurt.
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Son todos unos guevones, nada de este articulo es verdad, si quieren vacaciones adelante, se trabaja las horas necesarias, y para k se quejan? Si no les interesa pues no vallan a Ak. E trabajado con mucho boricua, y se quejan de todo….. si no quieren trabajar quedense en su casa.
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El que venga a los EEUU tiene que saber qué aquí no hay misericordia. El país fue fundado sobre una base de individualismo extremo y supremacía blanca. Es una cultura muy diferente a la nuestra.
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Please send a copy to the ignorant Governor of PR so he pass the word to the island.
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If this is what this economy calls progress, I too, call this pure slavery. This video and information needs to go viral ASAP.I will post by his and ask as many of my friends, relatives and associates to repost this. Keep,the faith..we will stop this crap!!!
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Puerto Rico make it Better,.US have to go away ,and see how we grown by oun..
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This not slavery but suicide! This has to be stop! these persons responsible for recruiting have to be kill on the island so they wont come back and recruit more Puerto ricans for this suicide mission!
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To me this the New-Age Slavery. One just gets paid. Ruin an economy in a place where the desperation is such that one is willing to move to a place where “Jesus lost His fucking sandal” and work 18 hours a day. This shit is all by design and Puerto Ricans don’t seem to see that. They keep voting for the same 2 party systems which does nothing for them, just like they do here. Remember who runs Puerto Rico, that’s right USA. The same country that gives Israel 10 million dollars a day to kill Palestinians, but can’t give Puerto Rico a 72 billion dollar bail out. Let Puerto Rico be a free country and you’ll see how well we could do on our own. Or at least get rid of the Jones Act and you’ll see what would happen.
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Its a total shame..starting with the idiot who. Even thought of this crazy 18 hours a day for 7days.. Really …. This is the best u can offer. U don’t expect people not slaves to get tired.. We’re is your common sense your decency. Ohhh u don’t have any or care…i hope nobody signs up for this abuse yes abuse in major way….I won’t ever buy none of your products and I will spread the word to all I can! And yea go fuck yourself…….
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Al Carajo con ese invento
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no, no es esclavitud. usted va a trabajar a un sitio con horas y dias que usted admitio a sabiendas de lo que le espera. No esta usted en condiciones fisicas para esta labor?, pues no lo haga, y, como dijo alguein por ahi “quedese sentado en su casa quejandose y esperando que caiga mana del cielo”. Y, por cierto, eso que dice el articulo de que “colonia esto y colonia aquello”, no es mas que pura demagogia, y utilizan cualquier excusa para resaltar su ideologia politica. … Los verdaderos culpables son aquellas ineptas administraciones que han hundido la isla en esta porqueria que tenemos hoy… Donde estan los verdaderos visionarios??
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It’s not “slavery” tho
It’s a really shitty non union job that pays Alaskan minimum wage – assuming that they actually obey the law and pay overtime, that’s $1,073 a week for a basic 84 hour week, and for those 126 hour extreme work weeks, it’s $1,523.25 a week
That’s damned good money – especially if the company is supplying room and board on the premises, so they don’t have to pay for groceries, rent or commuting
Should they get paid more?
yes
Should they have a bigger crew so they can reduce the work day to 8 hours?
yes
That’s an argument for unionizing this cannery
They aren’t slaves – slaves don’t get paid anything
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The think the #1 struggle would be the extreme difference of weather and the fact that the nearest hospital is 800 miles away should you succumb to illness or a freak accident. The company is being forthright and clear about the job expectations,wages, long hours, you either take the job or you don’t. No one is forcing you to go there and work for free.
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$7,000 in 3mo? That’s. It work it bc you’re away from family in crappy weather and exaggerated work hours. At 24hrs being away it’s about $3/hr. When looking for work you also have to account travel time and any expenses deducted from your actual pay so you know exactly how much you make. For people desperate to leave the very low min wages in PR this will look tempting. How long can you keep up this ridiculous work hours?
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No, this isn’t slavery. They are not being flown to Alaska against their will. As US citizens, they are free to find a job anywhere in the USA if they don’t want to work for minimum wage in Puerto Rico and don’t want these jobs in Alaska. Your hyperbole does a disservice to this issue, because now people are more focused on the extreme and incorrect nature of your argument, versus focusing on the working conditions and potential for misinformation from this company.
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This article is pure sensationalism.
Nobody is forcing anyone to work there. If you don’t want the job don’t take it. I made a lot money working during the Verizon strike in 2016 for 34 straight days 7 days a week 12,13,14 and somethimes 15 hr days telephone pole climbing (and we technically had no choice). Others did the whole strike 47 days. My point is nobody is forcing anyone to do anything on this sea food job. The company is being up front with the work, hours, pay and location. It’s something you do for a few weeks and then leave.
Es una opción mas. Si usted no esta de acuerdo, pues no tome el trabajo. No hay porque empezar peticiones para negarle a otra gente la opotunidad y empezar a gritar “esclavitud”. La compañía no le miente, ni le esconde el hecho de que es trabajo duro en un lugar remoto. Si, es cierto que E.U. ha impuesto su voluntad con la JCF, pero eso no tiene que ver nada con esta compañía ofreciendo este tipo de trabajo. Si usted esta de buena salud y quiere hacer un dinerito tome el trabajo, hagalo por varias semanas y regrese con mas dinero del que iba a hacer sentado en su casa quejandose de todo.
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Company is very clear on the conditions and requirements of the job. It is to the individual to decide if the job is suitable for him/her.
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I totally agree with you!. Way back in 1972, I worked for Pan Alaska Fisheries in Kodiak, Alaska during my Junior and Senior year in College for the summer. Some work was in a King Crab Cannery/Factory and the other was in a Shrimp processing plant. Hours were long and boring, but I made the money I wanted. If making money in a short time is you goal…Then go!, If you don’t want to work, then STAY HOME..
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I am Puerto Rican, born in NYC, my parents were born in Puerto Rico.
To say that Puerto Ricans are being sold into slavery is a gross exaggeration. These are good paying jobs. The company has a strict lateness and absent policy, that is a good thing. Those that value their jobs will comply with the rules. There is an opportunity for advancement, the pay is good. The living facilities are good.
Does anyone come and force Puerto Ricans to take these jobs?
The company is not responsible for the personal situation of anyone that comes to work in their plant.
Don’t want the job, don’t apply for it.
Puerto Ricans complain too much. Work hard, save your money and you will have something to show for it.
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Puerto Ricans are not being sold into slavery, they volunteer to work there.
If they don’t want to they don’t have to.
The terrible economic situation in Puerto Rico makes it difficult to get legitimate jobs, so this is an option.
Those that do not want to do this because it is too much for them, can go someplace else.
If Puerto Ricans complain, they will just hire others to replace them.
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Luis, I know you are telling the truth, because I worked in a Kodiak Fishing cannery for 1 summer, way back in 1972 between my junior and senior year in college. I MADE MONEY. I worked for 3 months, and I had enough money to finish college that next year. Yes, it was hard, boring work. But my goal was to make money. I could have NEVER made that amount of money, if I took a summer job in the lower 48. I was 20 years old when I worked, a woman and only 120 pounds at the time. I made great friends. It’s plain and simple. Some people are just afraid of hard work.
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If you don’t like to work hard and work like a normal person then work at Mcdonals or somewhere else. I work with Westward Seafood one winter season in January 2016, they were like a second family for me. they are nice people. I flight from San Juan Puerto Rico just for the Interview in Alaska. I make 7000 dollars in 3 months. they feed me they give me a room and they were nice with me. I tell to everyone that I was from Puerto Rico and they dint were mean or bad with me. There is a lot of Philipinos and Mexican but they are famillies , you can see the whole family working there like Father Mother and son. They make that interview in PR because I talk to them. I tell them that there is People Hard Workers in PR that need money and 7000 in 3 month is not a bad deal. so they make everything to help my people of Puerto Rico and thanks to this post they cancel everything. Is simple if you dont want this job dont apply. They are nice people ,They just were looking for the nice people of Puerto Rico that I was talking about. but there is also the Lazyricans that dont wanna work and just depending of USA . I went to westward in January 2016 to April 2016 and also Im going back in January 2017 , they are nice people there is no mafia , just people that want to work and get a better future. and just in case Im from Sabana Grande Puerto Rico . Si eres boricua. no creas en esto mi hermano. sabes que hay mucho mantenio en PR y con esos 7000 bastante que ayude a mi familia y por eso me voy otra vez y seguire volviendo. Sin sacrificio no progreso y hay muchos que quiren irse a USA y no saben que hay que joderse cuando se cruza el charco.
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If you are Puertorrican I will write you in Spanish
Yo trabaje en Westward Seafoods en Invierno y si hay nieve y frio y muchas horas pero tambien vire pa PR con 7000 dolares en mi bolsillo que no me gane en PR ni en un año buscandomelas. Ustedes saben que en PR quieren to regalao y estamos los que trabajamos duro, yo fui y trabaje duro y si es 9.75 la hora pero no gastas en nada , alla te dan comida y un cuarto y el ambiente es familiar y latino. yo voy a volver para Dutch Harbor a trabajar con Westward Seafood otra vez y por culpa de esta noticia ellos no van a ir a PR por que no querian problemas ahora yo tengo que viajar a otro estado para poder ir a la entrevista. yo quiero que hagamos algo con esta gente que miente y usan nuestro orgullo puertorriqueño en contra de nuestro progreso sin saber como son las cosas ahora. diganme donde puedo hacer 7,000 dolares en 3 meses ? pues yo le digo que en Westward Seafoods. La cual es una de las mejores compañias para trabajar en Alaska. Saludos se me cuidan gente y no se dejen engañar de gente que ni Alaska an pisado. y por cierto la primera vez que sali de PR fue para Alaska en el 2015.
Luis Hernandez de Sabana Grande Puerto Rico.
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I definitely see an issue but I honestly would like to know the Puerto Rican part of this and who let this even take place and use their own people to gain but its not slavery. Slavery is a pretty bold statement BC they are getting paid but it is horrible for the environment and etc. Maybe a little mind control and belittling but not getting whipped or forced to mate w someone you don’t know so they can have the next generation ready. It’s their choice to go and they won’t be force and killed if they object
But don’t think I’m making this better than what it is just BC I’m saying it isn’t slavery BC if what you wrote aboutbis true then this is horrible. First w the millions I’m sure they are making they can afford to have a on site medical team even if its just one or two people bc alot of things cam happen there especially with the inexperienced and provide some kind of insurance. But really where do I start w this horrible mind fart the elite came up w BC their own people up there won’t work there so sorry about not agreeing w the slavery rant but otherwise I def see a very big problem and it does need to be stopped
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I am shocked. Smh.
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A todos los que han comentado si realmente quieren saber lo que ha llevado a PR a la situacion actual les sugiero que compren y lean el libro del Sr. Nelson A. Denis “Guerra Contra Todos Los Puertorriqueños”, podran comprender porque hoy las cosas son tan trajicas para PR. ———————————————————————————————————- To all: lf you want to really know, why this things are happening in PR today, just bay and read the book that Mr. Nelson A. Denis wrote “War Agaist All Puerto Rican” it is well explained.
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The International law is expected to represent world wide scenarios like this segmental, cruel and vantagous method to explode by degrading, demoralizing our nationality, our race, our children’s like indispensable, like robots, worst then slaves that goes way back 2000 years. We the people, the government’s, our world leaders, United States President, the work force, the UN, the entire Police department should abolish and close this company in the spot, including the United States OSHA Department requiring that this Company must comply within humane fair treatment standards that even a child can figure what they impose and how they operate is worst than being in an Holocaust War. All religious entity must stand together and voice justice within the Laws of God
Not even God worked 7 days without taking a one day rest. Period boycott this company actions and stop the advantages abuse and their malice. Enough said!
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Pingback: VICTORY – Petition · No Manipulating Puerto Ricans into Abusive Fishing Work · Change.org | Tiffany's Non-Blog
@ Tiffany267 If you click through the craigslist link and look at the jobs section on Westward’s site, you’ll see that it’s all been deleted. I also called Westward posing as an interested worker and they informed me they cancelled the presentations. While one could try to say they’re just hiding and lying, that doesn’t make sense because they need to promote the event to get potential workers to come
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@ Rafael, can you please confirm where you saw that the event is canceled?
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I worked in Kodiak Alaska processing shrimp and King Crab back in 1972 Same type of shifts. I was 20 years old, a female. I applied for this job. I paid my own roundtrip ticket. The room was free, but we did our own food and laundry. It was the best adventure of my life at the time and I MADE MONEY, more money then I could have ever earned back in Minnesota. At that time, minimum wage was $1.25. I had enough money to carry me thru my last year of school at the University of MINNESOTA…Yes it was hard boring work, but it was a great experience. I knew then, why I was going to college. I sure didn’t want to process shrimp for the rest of my life. I think it is a shame, that they aren’t coming here to recruit. If gives some young kids their first job. AND YOU DON”T HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR THE JOB, IT IS VOLUNTARY. I don’t understand the comments about slavery…you have freedom of choice.
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HEY EVERYONE-
They cancelled the recruitment and will no longer be hiring Puerto Rican workers. This doesn’t change the long line of colonial exploitation that Puerto Rico has suffered and still suffered at the hands of the US, and the company definitely still exists and is doing this to other workers, but hey, tiny victory? Admin/author/whatever- it’d be dope if you could update the article to reflect that they’re no longer recruiting. Also, thank you for posting this. Honestly couldn’t find this take on the issue anywhere else online, so I feel like you’re the sole reason it caught attention and was cancelled. Thank you!
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Reblogged this on ShiraDest Community Cooperation Blog and commented:
My god, this is unbelievable…
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Just started a petition to demand NO RECRUITMENT for this abuse!
https://www.change.org/p/no-manipulating-puerto-ricans-into-abusive-fishing-work
Sign and share!!
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I agree the terms and conditions are infra-human. BUT, the company is being upfront and honest about it, not hiding the truth, and no one is bring forced to go. Prospective workers need to become well-informed and truly do some serious thinking and soul-searching before making a decision. I imagine some very healthy, strong, and driven men & women could make it and survive, but I would not advice anyone- Puerto Rican or not – to take on this “adventure!”
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Pingback: Petition · No Manipulating Puerto Ricans into Abusive Fishing Work · Change.org | Tiffany's Non-Blog
Just don’t take the job.
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I declare war and to kill the ones who are involved in doing this to our people. The Puerto Rican heritage has much respect than to go to Alaska and to be treated like that. No remorse will be imposed and it will start immediately. They imprisoned us because we have severe power and we will show you all again the power we have.
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Vamos a unirnos y boicot a westward seafood dont buy anything from them al comprarles ayudamos a el abuso No Mas Abuso!!!!
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Wow that is so hard to believe and who is behind this? who’s allowing this to happen????
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I was just recently telling someone about how the meat and fish industries are abusing workers.
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No se deje enganiarse esto es esclavitu moderno facil Para ir pero defisil regresar
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I suggest for them not to even fuck with my people lol unless they all want there faces blown off by the craziest from my island then be my guest…. We wasn’t brought to this fucking world to be nobody’s damn slave!… So I suggest these assholes get there shit together take Puerto Ricans out this shit before they make us all stand together as one and fuck shit up!!..
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Este es un excelente ejemplo de las oportunidades de empleo que existen para aquellas personas que por alguna razón u otra carecen de una preparación académica, un oficio o alguna destreza especializada.
Es importante el adquirir algún tipo de formación profesional; aunque esto signifique la necesidad de préstamos estudiantiles. Actualmente existen una gran oferta de programas de estudio que van desde grados técnicos hasta grados doctorales.
También existe la oportunidad de desarrollar empresas locales.
Una forma de no ser víctima o tarjeta de empresas como esta, es la educación.
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This is CRAZY I am a American and Love People of all races this is the closes to slavery as there is. Simply do not go and work like this Pray to God to lead you to a better opportunity.
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WTF HE’LL NO….IT IS SLAVERY. I HOPE NOT A SINGLE BORICUA GOES.
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Remember the Haitians who nowadays doesn’t no good consideration in American,s eyes were fighting in two independence war for the and help them get free,it,s not even getting mentioned today .never think twice
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Please Dont go Dont get tricked in to a slavery that is unbelievable Dont do it it might mean ur life Dont let this dealth trap trick u
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There are two names Alberto Baco and Vance Thomas, they are the responsible for what happens.
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Shame on the USA and the PR government for allowing this recruitment to go on in the island.
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Fuck westward seafoods and anyone else who is not willing to give us what we been deserve freedom our land and our future and our liberty and our rights and money power and respect for the time and effort into a b.s. USA today
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Hahahahahahaha
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Wow! Is incredibly that people will not consider that Puerto Rico is part of United state my father went world war 2 and served this so call powerful country and still at least not consider the effort that a lot of the boricuas are doing for this country there’s bad and good in every country if you want to discriminate against them because you want to say what ever but Life is a bumeran to all of those that does want to discriminate karma but I say God bless you because you are going to need it…..
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I did this job, with Westward Seafoods in Dutch Harbor. I will simply tell anyone that thinks “a job is a job” this is NOT a job. It is pure SLAVERY. I ran away from that place as fast as I could and ironically I now work in the transportation industry which forces me to DELIVER fresh new SLAVES every year to Akutan and Dutch Harbor plants.
DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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A quien le pueda interesar,
Hola, quiero decirles a las personas que esten interesadas un poco sobre mi historia con Westward Seafoods en Alaska. En el 2005, con apenas 19 a~os, decidi mudarme para Alaska y buscar un mejor futuro. No conocia nada ni nadie en este estado y como muchos vine con el sue~o de encontrar buena paga en la pesca. Trabaje en 5 pescaderias que aunque fueron horribles y explotadoras, ninguna me preparo para lo que me esperaba en Westward Seafoods…
Trabaje el verano del 2005 en varios lugares remotos en Alaska, limpiando diferente especies de pescados. Ya entrando el Oto~o comenze a buscar lugares que trabajaran el invierno ( crab, pollock, great cod ) ya que la especie del salmon no se procesa en invierno. Ahi fue que encontre a Westward Seafoods a traves de una conferencia en Anchorage. Por supuesto, me prometieron villas y castillas, me llenaron los ojos y sin pensarlo dos veces firme el contrato el cual decia claramente que los pasajes solo serian pagados por la compa~ia si se cumplia el contrato y la temporada completa.
Al llegar a la planta fue bastante evidente para mi que habia cometido un grave error. Todo esta dividido en peque~as mafias de trabajadores, los Filipinos siendo la mafia mas poderosa en toda la procesadora. Te tratan como un perro si no estas en algun circulo y al ser de Puerto Rico, nuevo y sin experiencia en ese ambiente eres tratado como basura. El resto de los trabajadores son personas con antecedentes criminales y felonies. Hay mucha gente peligrosa y volatil en la planta. Los cuartos o “barracks” son 5 adultos por apartamento. Los apartamentos son super peque~os y terminas durmiendo con ellos en el mismo cuarto. Cualquier pertenencia de valor es robada automaticamente.
El trabajo en si es lo peor de todo. Condiciones pesimas. Estas mojado con agua congelada y contaminada de principio a fin. Vas a levantar cajas de 70 libras con tu espalda cada 10 segundos. Te van a estar gritando y humillando constantemente. Te van a cobrar por “room & board” el cual hoy en dia creo que son $15 por dia. Si no llega pescado por una semana le debes dinero a la pescaderia por tu “estadia”. Dividen tus horas para hacerte trabajar lo maximo posible sin tener que pagarte overtime. Por ejemplo, trabajas de 4pm a 12am y te dejan trabajando de 12am a 8am. 16 Horas que por ser en diferentes dias no estarian obligados a pagarte overtime.
Dutch Harbor es una isla pesima. No hay nada que hacer, es frio y el viento sopla como huracan sin parar. Para poder salir de la isla tendrias que pagar de tu bolsillo sobre $700 one way hacia Anchorage.
Cuando por fin decidi irme, luego de dos peleas y un psicopata que casi me apu~ala, me fui a Anchorage donde hay muchas oportunidades para gente que quiere echar para alante. Ya en Anchorage tuve varios trabajitos en los cuales puede desarrollar un circulo de amistades y ahorros. Llevo casi 12 a~os en Alaska y hasta ahora, luego de las pescaderias me ha ido muy bien. Incluso, hoy 8/13/2016 me dirijo hacia Dutch Harbor en un barco llevando vehiculos y pasajeros. El clima hoy es de vientos de 30 millas y olas de 15 pies.
Cualquier duda o pregunta en confianza pueden reply a este comentario y les contestare cuando pueda. Les recomiendo que si piensan trabajar para Westward Seafoods cambien de parecer y busquen CUALQUIER trabajo en Puerto Rico que seria mil veces mejor que ser un esclavo para Westward en Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
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Only a moron would accept this job and location. It ain’t the 50’s we have the internet. Look up Alaska. Stare at that snow. Do you want that as your future? Wake up you moron. lol
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Soy de Alaska. Y los muchachos de Anchorage buscan este tipo de trabajo en el verano. Ganan bastante dinero si pueden sobrevivir. Saben es dificil y muchas veces no regresan por una segunda vez. Hay mucho trabajo en Alaska que es peligroso, dificil, horible horas. Creci con este oportunidad y nunca pense que es eslavitud pero este articulo me ayudo. Si es terible. Tengo un amigo que quemo todo su brazo. Tengo otro que se cayo su barco en el mar cuando pescando comercial. Personas de Alaska piensan este es vida. Cada verano gente gana bastante por trabajo muy duro. No Es eslavitude pero es muy cerca. How’s my Spanish? Pretty bad? Feel free to correct it. Thanks.
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Please don’t do this. I moved from Puerto Rico to California from there to Las Vegas Nevada and now I’m in Arlington Texas. Bilingual gets paid from $16 to $21 per hour to start. There are Spanish speaking o lay jobs paying from $7.25 to $13.50…plenty of Puerto Rican restaurants …great schools…houses are cheap. One way ticket is about $219 and can be found cheaper. Your own terms. Nobody should dictate your future but yourself. ..Don’t make this mistake…just get informed
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I am very happy with your information about this Evil Company, and there is no other word that can be use. There has to be some kind of present of people in the hotel that day, to let these people that are being used as slave workers. For evil people like this have made sure that information like the one you have will not be available for all. Protest in front of the hotel, and demand people know what is waiting for them, and the hotel, for letting our people be use as a slave in Alaska, people to boycott the hotel… I am a disable veteran, at the time homebound, but I have faith, that my people with Wisdom, will protest in peace, to safe, and wake them to the Truth that waits them in Alaska… (+_+)
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With so many inmates here in the USA,why DONT you take them to this island to work, instead of us tax payers wasting money and nothing gets done,
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This is as horrible as can get if true! The federal government shouldn’t allow this slave labor to exist in America any longer! Power to the People!
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Que no se dejen engañar. Somos mejores que esos empleadores abusadores.
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People!!! If the company recruiting have been up front on letting you know total conditions for this, then HOW!!! can you blame everybody else but the person that knowingly accepts this job!!! This type of blaming is why PR is in the condition that it is! – Bringing “awareness” to Puerto Ricans is perfectly fine and well done, giving heads up to this horrendous job offering is the right course not blaming or alleging Slavery.
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I have live in the united States and was born in Puerto Rico. My mother brought my sister and me when I was 8 years and was in shock when the cold first hit me that if I was old enough I would walk to Florida and walk the Ocean back to Puerto Rico, Today I keep my house temperature just above 72 Deg. Anyone that goes to Alaska could not afford the Heat Bill. So if you live in Puerto Rico I would asked them to Pay me $100 a day maybe and i will think about it .
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Wtf did I just read. There’s better options than that and most in Denver at oil refineries where there’s work camps and the money is really good. Check on it. Also too North Dakota. For all my Boricuas “no se dejen”.
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This is not good. I remember when big pharma started, Eli lily set up shop & hired a bunch of Boriqua. They told the women, ” to get this job, you need an operation.” They sterilized hundreds of women.
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It would be interesting to know the brand names under which this operation goes to market. Not buying their products would be a good prize for their business model.
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Puerto Ricans need to wake up and head some where else. This is not an attractive offer at all!! There are plenty of other locations to go especially after living in a beautiful island like PR. Don’t do it people!
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SOME PEOPLE THINK SLAVERY WAS ABOLISH. THIS IS CLEARLY A JOB FOR SLAVES. I HOPE NO PUERTORICAN WILL ACCEPT THIS JOB. IT WILL COST THEM THEIR LIFE.
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Not only puerto Rico government allow it,but what about usa government and the human right? And Osha is the one that get involve for let them treat workers like that.
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Hi I’m puertorrican and a U.S. citizen, I will not discuss my condition because it’s well known by the majority. But I don’t understand why is this company Westward Seafoods Inc.is recruiting people from a hot climate to live and work in a permanently refrigerated state. It can be possible that the U.S.A natives doesn’t want to work that kind of job, also I want to tell my fellow puertorricans that you aren’t under any obligation to work for this company and Alaska is not the only state of the U.S.A. Of course if you move to U.S.A without being fluent in English and no high school you’ll be in a bind so get educated learn the language and off you can go.
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First let me offer some congratulations. Your post is listed as one of the most popular on all of wordpress right now! 🙂
As someone that writes on theology and volunteering for my blog I can’t say I am knowledgeable enough to add to the discussion but I think it’s great that the issues are being brought up so that more knowledgeable minds can make sure people aren’t being exploited and that equality is upheld 🙂
Great post!
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Thank you, we really appreciate your support.
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This happens 2 or 3 times a year and its not just alaska, different companies recruit workers from PR all the time, they “Gas you up “and pay for your flight , room, etc…usually they pay shit money and the work is shit, they have been taking advantage of the economic crisis here in PR for a number of years now…Trust me im in PR and theres alot of things that are wrong right now on the island this is just a taste…
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If all of the above information is true, the governor of Puerto Rico should NOT allow said company (Westward Seafoods) to recruit, enslave, condemn and dehumanize and abandon Puerto Ricans within one hour of being fired to their own faith– who may as a result, Die– This calls for the Dept. of Investigations to look into this matter and investigate those previous and present workers who may be responsable and who may be accepting some sort of compensations !!
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And then to top it all off, you have to pay $15 dollars a day to live there! What?! They can’t even pay the freaking housing? Thank you Mr. Dennis for alerting us of this crap. I will share.
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Could it be a balance in all this information, do they have a dispensary, a mean to get to a hospital if necessary, a commissary to purchase their needs, any kind of entertainment ie, movies etc. Not all can be that negative, can an employee choose a short tour or split time so thy can come home……let’s say every few months for a month or so. Lots of questions in mind.
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This is atrocious. The only thing that I can think is that people will hopefully remember that time in the 1900s when they were being shipped off to Hawaii (supposedly to curb population, if I recall) but it was really just a front for slave labour. That was bad news, but this is even worse considering the era we are in today and all that has occurred prior. Educate!
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This would be the perfect job for law breakers…jails would be less populated…
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This Boricua right here says the owner of the company cab go hire his mama, sister, brother, daughters, so they can go and work 7 days a week at 12 hour shift. Days of slavery bent over.
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This is outrageous! Puerto Rico needs to be informed about this immediately!. We all know the type of deficit Puerto Rico is going through right now. And this company will take advantage of that since everyone in that beautiful island is looking for stable job that is coming really hard to get over there this days. I will totally recommend puertoricans to come to the states instead. Texas, Florida, New York and even California are the hottest/easiest places to get a job with better wages, better benefits and live the lifestyle they really deserve. We all know Puerto Rico is part of us and letting this happen means we are letting our own to be slaves.
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.Why would anybody in their right mind leave an Island to go to this hell hole? There’s not enough money in the world that would encourage me to leave those beautiful beaches and bury myself with the smell of fish in a refrigerator for 18 hrs a day. You then get off work out of a refrigerator only to step outside to another one? W T F.?.. Id rather be fishing for them fishes on a beach in PR.
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The hotel hosting this recruitment should be blackballed!
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QUe mucho el Boricua se queja!
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I think it has to come to light for everyone to know what is going on and educate the people before taking a job like that.
Something have to be done.
That company can’t get away with what they are doing.
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O sea, vengan a otro estado de los Estados Unidos, pero no Alaska.
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THE GRAVE DANGER OF PUERTO RICO’S DEPOPULATION
DON’T MISS THE PIG PICTURE HERE.
THE U.S. WANTS, AND IS SUCCEEDING, IN DEPOPULATING THE ISLAND NATION OF PUERTO RICO, AND SPREADING US ALL THOUGHOUT THE U.S.
LATER, WHEN OUR ISLAND’S POPULATION DECREASES BELLOW A CRITICAL MASS, THEY WILL STAR POPULATING US WITH ANGLOS, AND TAKE OVER. EVENTUALLY,
WHEN THE ANGLO POPULATION FAR EXCEEDES THE SMALL NATIVE POPULATION, THEN THE U.S. CONGRESS WILL MAKE PUERTO RICO A STATE.
THERE’IS A HISTORICAL PRECEDENT. ! ! !
READ THE STORY OF THE TAKEOVER OF THE HAWAIIAN KINGDOM DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY, BY THE U.S. AND YOU WILL UNDERTAND THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A THEORETICAL OR HYPOTHETICAL ASSUMPTION.
IT COULD, AND WILL HAPPEN TO PUERTO RICO IF WE DON’T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IF, STARTING, NOW ! ! ! ! ! !
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This a modern term of slavery? Yes, and it should be illegal. People shouldn’t be treated like slaves.
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There are people that works because any type of job is a job…if you are going to make workers afraid..with talks that the job is so hard…then people won’t do it…if they are in need they will do it..go find Haitians..Mexicans..or any Chinese they won’t hesitate to work..but Puertorricans workers wants easy things comes to their hands with no problems..life is not like that…you need to strugle more to get what you need in life….I was told ones that Alaska is the best place where they pay the hours of work better.
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What else we could expect? The system( E.L.A.) in Puerto Rico COLAPSED. THEY MESSED THE ECONOMY SO BADLY THAT IT IS HARD TO GET JOBS. THIS EVEN FOR PEOPLE WITH TITLES AND COLLEGE EDUCATION. THIS HAVE BEEN FORCING OUR PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE ISLAND TO TRY THEIR LUCK SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT IS LIKE A MASSIVE EXODUS. THE GOVERNMENT MESSED THINGS UP WHEN THE 936 DESAPPERED. FACTORIES LEFT THE ISLAND AND PUERTO RICO STOPPED BEING ATTRACTIVE TO THEM.
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That is what capitalism is all about…Legal slavery…and the PuertoRican government shoud be ashamed to permit this, in the first place, and should be investigated to see if any economic benefit is received for giving up these men or women to this type of bondage…Like the beautiful people of Israel were sent to Egypt…Very sad, very disturbing…The labor agencies should take immediate action on this matter and not permit this to be happening…With all due respect…justice is truly blind…This should stop, period!
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No way should any Puerto Rican even think of working for this company. If they have to leave go to the US. This company should be ban for coming to PR to recruit. Where is the government of PR allowing this to happen?
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How can we get this to the right people???
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I live in Alaska. They host these sorts of things here as well. It is standard practice in the industry to work employees to this degree and pay them just this amount. The over time however in Alaska is anything over 40 hours in a week AS WELL AS anything over 8 in a day. That means for more then half the time spent on the job they are making time and a half. Which works out to be $14.62 an hour. This actually is not a bad wage. Certainly would be enough for a plane ticket home. Most companies in Alaska will try to not let you work even 35 hours in a week, but still manage to have you work 7 days a week, for physical labor type low paying jobs because then they would have to give you benefits.
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Shameful
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While the recruitment is taking place in this elegant hotel in San Juan, educators should be there also informing the people what awaits for them in Alaska – to counteract. This is so unbelievable and despicable. My people don’t do it. Come to the states instead.
Mientras el reclutamiento se esta llevando a cabo en este elegante hotel en San Juan, educadores debieran estar alli tambien informando a la gente lo que le espera en Alaska – para contrarrestar. Esto es algo tan increible y despreciable. Mi gente no lo hagan. En lugar, vengan a los Estados Unidos.
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the numbers don’t match. Is not enough money for all the work. And then you have to pay $15/day for rent/food/laundry. Not worth it. I guessley they have to inform what the job requires, but still bad.
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What a bunch of garbage to treat people like this and I would have the FBI and the Attorney General investigate these allegations against this company and have a mandatory shutdown of the facility in Alaska. And if there is any corruption going on shut the plant down for good.
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It is despicable, it is inhumane but it is not slavery. I am black and this does not compare to the slavery my ancestors went through. So fight this abuse. Educate people so they do not accept this but don’t make that comparison.
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esto da verguenza,no solo para el PUERTO RICUENO. SI NO PARA TODOS LOS DE LA RAZA LATINA.
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Nasty leaders ,in puerto rico ,xirty politicians pro slavery ,might sponsor this for $,puerto rico has the worst governor ,and law breakers.
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Wow. This is good for a person that has a dead wish.
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Absolute slavery.
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I DONT BELIEF THIS WE ARE US CITIZENS. IF THE PARENTS OF THIS YOUNGTERS DONT EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THIS COMPANY THEY ARE TO BLAME, WE CANNOT BE SOO STUPID AND BELIEF EVERYTHING YOU READ.. BUT IF ITS TRUE BOYCOTT THE COMPANY AND GO TO OR SEND YOUR CHILD TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES TO GET BETTER JOBS.. THE PUERTO RICANS OUTTHERE MOST OF THEM ARE COMING FROM NY.. AND I KNOW THEY ARE NOT SOO NAIVE!!! SEND THIS COMPANY TO HELL!! DONT GO TO ALASKA!! UNLESS IS TO VISIT AND WITH MONEY SO YOU COULD GET BACK HOME!!
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Mind blowing information at its finest quality!
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Westward Seafoods Inc.should be boycotted and not allowed to recruit in Puerto Rico.What an insult.Why not recruit in the main USA land?What an insult.!!!
Westward Seafoods Inc.se tiene que piquetear y no dejar que recluten en Puerto Rico, por qué no reclutan en los estados?Es un insulto!!La prensa deve de estar encima de esto.
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You don’t have to go all way to Alaska to get a better-paying job….theres are jobs in the 50 states of america..
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Sin contar los que desaparecen o caen en manos de Piratas del salmon donde son encadenados por los piernas para que no puedan escapar , la muerte es mejor que estar en esa situacion, para los que no estan acostubrados al frio pobre de ellos es mejor cojer pal monte a la siembra de los productos de Puerto Rico.
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Thanks a lot Nelson for sharing. I will do the same, post and share. What can we do on our part?
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Nightmare on elm street. Puerto Ricans must solve this puzzle before its to late.
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What the fuck!!! Hell fucking no!!! They must be out of their fucking minds!!!!
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Pingback: Puerto Ricans are being sold into slavery in Alaska | WAR AGAINST ALL PUERTO RICANS | AGR Daily News Service
Thank you for sharing this Nelson! I hope Puerto Ricans on the island read your article and watch that Westward video really carefully! It should be enough to deter anyone from working there – even Alaskans!
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inflammatory indeed.
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
The story continues ….. “Puerto Ricans are being sold into slavery in Alaska” … “Yes, this language is inflammatory. But it is dead accurate.” … This is where the future of Puerto Ricans is headed!!
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