Mai Tai employees are lawful employees
To the editor:
I am writing in response to the article that was placed in the Star-Herald on Nov. 21, titled “Local restaurant fined for hiring unlawful employees.” This is not true. I have worked at the Mai Tai for well over 20 years (except for a few months) and I have also worked at other places as well. There is some element of truth in the article, however the title of the article insinuates a much different set of circumstances.
In October of 2010, the Mai Tai was going through a change of management in the dining room. It was at that time that Immigration showed up and asked to see our payroll and completed I-9s on all employees listed. There were 13 employees on our payroll at that time. The outgoing restaurant manager had filed the I-9s and we could not find them. We did not have her contact information at the time.
I knew that I-9s had been completed because I myself had completed them on all bartenders that were hired. The Mai Tai was asked to gather and complete 13 new I-9s on the employees. This was done within a day. I-9s were completed and all people were legal employees. Two-thirds of the employees were actually born in Aroostook County — American citizens with drivers’ licenses and Social Security cards. Three of the people on the list were actually Chinese cooks. They too had work permits and were also legal to work at the Mai Tai. Immigration did come back and get the completed I-9s.
In November of 2011 (a year later) Immigration informed us that even though the people were eligible to work in the United States, the business would still be fined $1,000 per person. I was even one of the people on the list. We did attempt to write a letter explaining our situation but several months later were told it was too late and we could not appeal the decision. Therefore the Mai Tai was fined $1,000 per person plus penalties.
Becky Boucher
Presque Isle
