by David Phinney
On March 15, approximately 168 TCN’s dressed in crisp white shirts and starched black pants were openly and publicly recognized with certificates of appreciation for their dedication and diligent efforts by Col. A.T Ball, Commander for the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and 25th CAB Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Kingston who both presented the awards.
“In the time I have been deployed, I haven’t had any of my Soldiers come to me about how bad the food is,” Ball said during the awards ceremony. “You all do a superb job in preparing our food.”
Above and beyond the scope of serving appetizing food and following health guidelines, the professionalism and demeanor demonstrated by TCNs is only one of the many things Soldiers look forward to when entering Eagles Nest Dining Facility
“In addition to always showing up to work on time and the basic job duties they perform, they are happy to be here taking care of the Soldiers,” Master Sgt. Danny Vantassell, Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 25th CAB said smiling.
True or False?: A usually sound source claims that not all is well for low-wage workers, known as “third country nationals” or TCNs, at a contract dining facility at Camp Stryker in Iraq.
The source says that 27 Indian laborers working under Gulf Catering of Saudi Arabia found working conditions so miserable that they fled in the dead of night into the ‘red zone’ beyond the safety of the sprawling US Army camp without passports or identification. Gulf Catering of Saudi Arabia is said to operate the dining facility as a subcontractor to Halliburton/KBR, which holds the sweeping $20-billion military support contract known as LogCAP.
Halliburton/KBR media contacts have not responded to questions about the allegation by email or telephone first made since last Thursday.
The Army Sustainment Command of Rock Island, Illinois, said it has no information regarding the matte “that substantiates the report of the TCN issues at Camp Stryker that you asked us to check on,” said spokeswoman Linda Theis last Thursday. “If that changes, we will let you know.”
Seven of the Indian workers returned to Camp Styker last week and complained that they had allegedly been physically beaten by a Gulf Catering superior, the source says. When the workers returned they said they were living in overcrowded conditions — 16 to a trailer.
If true, such conditions may be in direct violation of an April 21, 2006, Army Joint Contracting Command PARC.
That contracting order claimed at the time that the withholding of passports among workers was “widespread” and in violation of US labor laws.
It ordered all US-funded contractors to return passports by May 1, 2006. Additionally, the PARC requires that all contractors provide a minum of 50-square-feet of living space for each individual worker.
“The right of freedom of movement and living standards are serious issues,” the PARC states, adding that there will be “zero tolerance” of any infraction to the PARC.
Mr. Phinney,
Please see below KBR’s response regarding your query. I believe you already sent this query to our office in Houston.
Regards,
Marisol
KBR RESPONSE
KBR has determined the information you have to be incorrect and does not involve KBR or its subcontractor. However, we can assure you that KBR does not condone and will not tolerate any practice that unlawfully compels subcontractor employees to deploy, perform work or remain in a place against their will.
KBR operates under a rigorous Code of Business Conduct (COBC) that outlines legal and ethical behaviors that all employees and subcontractors are expected to follow in every aspect of their work. Any practice or behavior considered to be trafficking in persons-related including but not limited to engagement or support of forced labor, holding or transporting people against their will, deceptive hiring practices and substandard worker living conditions is inconsistent with our COBC. We do not tolerate any exceptions to this Code at any level of our company. KBR believes that all personnel should be treated with dignity and respect and we are committed to maintaining a work environment that fosters these principles.
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Marisol Espinosa
Communications Manager, LOGCAP III
KBR
LOGCAP III Headquarters, Bldg. 1, Rm. 20
Baghdad, Iraq
Office | +713.445.7936
DSN | 318.822.4735
Mobile| +964.7905.243.771
