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NEWS & LETTERS, July 2002
‘No match’ abusesChicago—The Social Security Administration used to
send out "no match letters" to individuals whose Social Security
number and name, as reported by one’s employer, did not match. This could be a
misspelling or a typo, or involve an undocumented person who crossed the border
for work to help her family. After 1994, SSA began sending letters also to any
employer who reported 10% of its workforce, or simply 10 workers, with
"wrong" numbers. In 2001, 110,000 of these letters were sent out to
employers. Since September 11, 750,000 letters went to employers. The only responsibility for the employer is to post a
notice and to inform the employee to rectify the problem. An employer is not
supposed to fire an employee who is a "no match." But many people have
been fired, and many more have been intimidated into quitting. There are already
cases in Chicago and Milwaukee where these letters are being used to try to beat
back successful union organizing drives. It is not known how far the Bush administration will go,
but it seems they will be issuing fines through the IRS, which is unprecedented.
Employers would then be forced to police workers’ social security numbers and
drive hardworking taxpayers out of the U. S. Capitalists are aware of the treasure trove of labor
entering the United States "illegally" from Mexico and
elsewhere—capitalism needs labor to exploit! But there has always been the
"Buchananite" right wing focused on keeping America white and
isolationist—akin to the Know Nothing Party of the 19th century. After
September 11, Homeland Security is being used to this effect. Some neo-liberal theorists have recognized that Karl
Marx was correct when he said that capitalism breaks down national boundaries.
But allowing workers freedom to cross borders might mean they could organize
internationally for a new society, which was not acceptable. So "no
match" letters will continue until we organize to stop them. —D. D. |
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