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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
John Pickle Company (owned by John Pickle Jr,), an Oklahoma-based oil industry parts manufacturer, recruited 52 Indian workers to work in the Tulsa factory, but were imprisoned, exploited, and abused. The skilled workers (high-tech welders, fitters, electricians, engineers, and cooks) were recruited through a travel agency located in Mumbai called AL Samit International, to which they paid a very expensive recruitment fee. The owner of the company John Pickle Jr. even flew to India to meet with and interview the workers. The foreign workers were promised that they would work under similar conditions as Americans, that they would receive free room and board, medical expenses and insurance paid, and that if their performance was satisfactory they would be hired permanently, they would obtain their green cards and they would be able to bring their families over from India. They traveled to the United States under the B1/B2 visa for “training,” with open dates. Upon arrival the men’s identification and immigration documents were confiscated by Mrs. Pickle. The workers lived in factory dormitories and were subjected to fraud and deceit, inadequate pay, sub-standard living conditions, false imprisonment, lockdowns with armed guard, phone tapping, food rationing, restrictions on freedom to worship, degrading job assignments, ethnic slurs, intimidation, and non-payment of wages earned. The victims were paid between $1.00 and $3.17 per hour while the other workers were paid $14.00 for the same work. The forced labor included janitorial work, replacing septic tanks, performing kitchen duties, and yard work for JPC officers. The company was charged due to the violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and 42 U.S.C. Section 81, because the treatment was based on national origin of the foreign workers. In 2006 the company was accused by federal attorneys of hiding assets in avoidance of paying the $1.3 million verdict to the victims.
Response and intervention
The court concluded that this conduct violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and 42 U. S. C. Section 1981. The owner of the JPC, John Pickle was ordered to pay $1.24 million to the 52 victims. The Hale Station Pentecostal Church is located across the street from the JPC factory. Around January 2002 others became to know of their situation. A few of the victims began to attend the church several times. One of the members of the congregation, Mark Massey invited them again to church and to church dinners, the victims began to open up about their situation. Since their English was not very good, Massey brought in a translator and the whole story was revealed. Massey offered the workers a place to stay if they decided to leave. 5 workers took him up on his offer. Massey pulled up to the factory at night and took the 5 workers. Later he sought the help of a lawyer to help shut down the factory. One of the members of the Hale Pentecostal Church sought help from an attorney to determine the workers legal rights as well as seeking the help of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The same member moved out of his house for the use of anyone who wanted to leave the factory. He and his friends and family arranged for food, bedding, and other needed articles. In addition he also contacted various civic and non-profit agencies and the media.