CHICAGO (WBBM)  -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson hopes to get some answers today from one of the nation's largest railroads and a subcontractor about background security checks and employment practices.

 

WBBM's Bob Roberts reports Rev. Jackson led a protest outside of the CSX Intermodal facility, at 2101 W. 59th St., and met for more than an hour with railroad officials.

 

At issue are the layoffs of 70 workers who were employed by H&M International Transportation. H&M subcontracts not just with CSX, but also with the Union Pacific Railroad at another facility on Chicago's West Side.

 

Those who were fired worked at the time for H&M at Union Pacific. CSX began subcontracting with H&M at the South Side facility on Tuesday.

 

"You were fired unjustifiably," Rev. Jackson told them. "There's no case that you've not done your work. They've fired you under the terrorist (U.S. Patriot) Act. You're not terrorists. You're citizens." 

 

The workers have asked how they suddenly became security risks. They said they never hid their non-violent felony convictions, and say H&M and the railroads had hired them, some for as long as 11 years.  Nonetheless, they said, they were told they were considered too risky to retain, following new, more extensive background checks required by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security guidelines.

 

Other workers said they were promised work by H&M at the South Side CSX facility when it took over operations at the facility Tuesday, but ultimately were not hired.

 

Reverend Jackson said H&M's interpretation of the law is at best faulty, and said he sees some racial undertones.

 

In the closed-door meeting with Rev. Jackson was an attorney, Tamara Holder, representatives of CSX Intermodal and representatives of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 705. 

 

Rev. Jackson said the CSX representatives appeared unclear on whether the company hires ex-convicts, and whether the same standards apply to security and trucking personnel.The company is promising Rev. Jackson clarifications within 24 hours, but Rev. Jackson said he is already recommending to the workers that they file suit against H&M, and said he wants Congressional hearings to clarify what the U.S. Patriot Act and other laws say about the ability to hire the workers.

 

"This appears to be a rather widespread pattern across the country that's taken place and we're not going to rest until the matter is resolved and we get hearings, and Congress makes clear the Act itself," Rev. Jackson said.

Security at intermodal transfer facilities, such as the CSX facility on the South Side, is a hot topic in the transportation industry. Much of the focus has been on U.S. entry ports, but officials have said that security at such transfer facilities, where containers are transferred between trucks and railroads, railroads and ships, or ships and trucks, is one of the weakest links in the nation's war on terrorism.

 

Congress has been under pressure from voters to improve security on many fronts in the face of terrorism threats, but Rev. Jackson said H&M is, at best, misinterpreting Homeland Security standards and the law. 

 

"They're using these schemes to take people's jobs and (are) misusing the law," he said.

Rev.Jackson hoped to meet in closed-door session with the fired workers Wednesday morning at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters, 930 E. 50th St.