Opinion ID: 658534
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Thirty Day Delay in Payment of Carriers

Text: 48 Appellants' final contention that the growers advance travel costs directly to foreign workers by arranging for delayed payment of the carriers is similarly without bite. Appellants argue that U.S. workers do not enjoy the benefit of a thirty day delay in paying carriers for their travel services, but that FLECTS' arrangement with Air Jamaica and Greyhound for roughly a month's delay in payment constitutes just such a benefit extended by the employers to foreign workers. Appellants' Brief at 35-37. As intervenor-appellees aptly point out, there are several problems with this reasoning. See Brief for Appellees S & A Chaissan & Sons, Inc. at 17-18. First, CATA's argument is premised on attributing FLECTS' contractual dealings with the carriers to the growers--a supposition we have already rejected. This flaw in appellants' final contention suffices in itself to undermine the claim that the growers are extending credit to the workers in the form of a delayed payment of the carriers. Nonetheless, we note that CATA misconceives the basic nature of the credit being extended. In the first instance, the delayed payment is an extension of credit by the carriers to FLECTS. Only if FLECTS were to pass on this extension of credit to the workers could the argument be made that FLECTS was extending credit (obtained by use of its market power from the carriers) to the Jamaican workers. There is no evidence in the record that FLECTS passes on the delayed payment to the workers. By obtaining a loan (and paying the interest up front) the worker incurs the cost of the travel prior to departure from Kingston. Moreover, CATA's argument proves too much--a worker who paid FLECTS in cash for the journey prior to departure from Kingston would by CATA's [304 U.S.App.D.C. 154] reasoning, have received an advance for travel costs by the employer. We conclude that it was not unreasonable for the DOL to reject this line of argument.