Guest workers? Or guests that don’t go home?

Chicago Defender ^ | 5-19-06 | Joseph C. Phillips

[SJackson]

JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: Guest workers? Or guests that don’t go home?

by Joseph C. Phillips
May 12, 2006

In 1952, the United States passed the immigration and nationality act. The act created various categories for non-immigrants entry into the country. One of these was the H-2 program for temporary workers. In the 1950’s, the U.S. Virgin Islands used the H-2 program to allow unskilled workers from various neighboring islands to work in the agricultural and tourist industries.

The best laid plans being what they are, by the 1960’s these temporary workers were being employed for any and every job on the Islands. By the end of the decade, these guest workers accounted for almost half of the entire work force. Many native workers were unwilling to work for the low wages paid to the guest workers. As a result, unemployment increased dramatically. Resources for schools and housing were strained. As the number of “temporary” workers kept increasing, the native born population even began to fear they might lose political control of their homeland. Soon, efforts were afoot to stop the children of guest workers from attending public schools but federal courts intervened. The program was abandoned in 1975 with most of the guest workers allowed to become permanent resident aliens because by this time they had put down roots on their new island.

Central to the administration’s planned immigration reform is a similar temporary worker program that in the words of President Bush “rejects amnesty, allows foreign workers to fill jobs no American is willing to do, and reduces smuggling and crime at the border.” Let’s pause just a moment so that we may all disabuse ourselves -- once and for all! -- of the notion that there are jobs Americans are unwilling to do. A quick Internet search of dog waste removal will reveal literally hundreds of Americans that get up each morning and clean up after their neighbors’ pets. If Americans will earn their livings cleaning up doggy-doody for an honest wage they will certainly pick fruit, cook food, build houses and mop floors.

And while we are busting myths… Guest worker programs have in the past been used as a solution to offset labor shortages. Such was the rationale of the Bracero program. In order to compensate for the loss of manpower in the agricultural industry during the Second World War and the Korean conflict, the United States and Mexico agreed to allow agricultural workers from Mexico’s poorest states into the country to work during harvest time. The program ended in 1964. And similarly to the H-2 program in the Virgin Islands native workers suffered. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, “In its thorough report on the Bracero program in 1952, President Truman’s Commission on Migratory Labor found that “wages by States [for agricultural workers] were inversely related to the supply of alien labor.” Citizen farm workers in the Southwest simply could not compete with braceros.”

Unlike the early 40’s when men were being shipped off to war by the hundreds of thousands, it is simply untrue that there is a shortage of low skilled labor in the United States. There are more than 30 million low-wage workers in the workforce. More specifically, Black teenage unemployment in the United States (men ages 16-19) is approximately 35%. The New York Times recently reported on the “deepening plight” of black men.

We must ask ourselves what these men with few skills and little education will do to support themselves if we institutionalize a program whereby low skilled jobs go to guest workers from another country. Like temporary worker programs before it, the president’s plan to provide American businesses with a constant influx of low priced labor is sure to keep both prices and wages low. What remains unclear is exactly how such a program builds solidarity with the American worker.

Joseph C. Phillips is an actor/writer based in Los Angeles. His column appears regularly in newspapers and and he is a regular commentator on News and Notes with Ed Gordon on NPR. Phillips is the author of "He Talk Like A White Boy" nowavailable wherever books are sold; it can also be purchased online here: http://subnorks.notlong.com. Contact him at: Joseph@josephcphillips.com

[SJackson]

And no, this is definitely not a conservative publication.

[Buckeye McFrog]

no, but it is a pre-eminent Black newspaper with a long and interesting history....looks like the gulf is about to split wide open on the Dem side of the aisle!

[TommyDale]

I had a Shih-Tzu, who was ordinarily quiet and loving to guests. But when 11 pm came around, he would start barking and tell them to leave. He would not stop until the guests had left. Maybe we need Shih-Tzus along the border.

[olezip]

So guest worker is a term for a trojan horse. The idea is another recommendation to implement a failed policy.

Saudi Arabia has a guest worker program, but the guests are segregated from the population at large, strictly controlled, limited in number, highly paid, children are educated elsewhere (out of the country), and invited to leave when their time is up; they can get another two-year extension if justified and requested. This is quite different from assimilating the workers into our society and then theoretically turning them away. Moronic!

[SJackson]

Saudi Arabia has a guest worker program, but the guests are segregated from the population at large, strictly controlled, limited in number, highly paid, children are educated elsewhere (out of the country), and invited to leave when their time is up; they can get another two-year extension if justified and requested. This is quite different from assimilating the workers into our society and then theoretically turning them away. Moronic!

Most middle eastern countries use guest workers, though generally for menial labor. You might recall the 300,000 palestinian laborers expelled from Kuwait, and the large number expelled recently from Iraq. Only 10% of the UAE's population are citizens. They're considered a significant potential source of political unrest. Rightfully so.

Report: Guest workers in Jordan abused

WASHINGTON, May 3 (UPI) -- Thousands of foreign guest workers employed in Jordan to manufacture garments for major U.S. companies are trapped in involuntary servitude, says a new report.

About $1.1 billion worth of garments made in Jordan entered the United States duty-free last year under the terms of a mutual free trade agreement as rampant human rights violations persist, according to the report released Tuesday by the National Labor Committee.

Factory workers for a host U.S. retail giants, including Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Target, Kmart and Victoria's Secret, are routinely forced to work over 100 hours a week, the report alleges. Seven-day work weeks and 20-hour are routine for less than minimum wage.

It is common for workers to be beaten with sticks and belts by factory managers; others have been raped, the report says. Housing conditions are dismal, often without running water and proper bathroom facilities.

Many workers said they feel like slaves and are desperate to escape. Some have reportedly left behind their passports to get away.

Jordan is the fourth country with which Washington has signed a free trade agreement, doing so in December 2000. There are at least 48,000 garment workers in the country and more than 25,000 of them are foreign guest workers. Totals may be much higher since record keeping is poor and dated.

The majority of guest workers come from India, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, while most garment factories exporting duty-free goods to the United States are foreign owned.

U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., is slated to introduce the "Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act," which will prohibit the import or sale in the United States of sweatshop goods made under conditions violating core International Labor Organization worker rights standards.

[SJackson]

I had a Shih-Tzu, who was ordinarily quiet and loving to guests. But when 11 pm came around, he would start barking and tell them to leave.

My dogs defend their borders too.

[Red6]

He makes a valid point though. There are people in the US who "would" do these jobs. The Political Correct rationalization of an amnesty program as Bush proposes is not based on a valid argument that these people are taking jobs that no one else wants.
There is however another issue seldom discussed by those supporting a guest workers program. Once you allow them in, even as quote on quote guests, you seldom get rid of them. This can be seen in near ANY other nation which tried similar things (Germany for example with its Gastarbeiter program). Once in, they soon become more then guests and you can't get rid of them even when the economy is not in a roar like today.

Let's not make any illusions about this issue. Whether Republican or Democrat; our politicians are flip-flopping on this issue since the Hispanic vote is at stake here. It's about voting blocks and majorities, not what is best for the nation. Amnesty didn't work for Reagan, it will not work for Bush either, but the real issue is what are the "perceptions" by the voting blocks out there?

[Rakkasan1]

Maybe we need Shih-Tzus along the border.

maybe we need fewer shi*heads in the senate.

[wolfcreek]

Is this another case of the 'artificially low priced' scam?By corporations hiring illegals to keep their prices down and then, after being found out, hire legal workers at higher wages causing their prices to consumers to soar.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

I suppose, "Guest" is a very appropriate term for illegals. Because a guest is treated better than anybody else, certainly better than law-abiding citizens.
All those in D.C who are for amnesty in its varried forms, please give my regards to the fallen Lucifer once you are up close and personal with the fella...

[Old_Mil]

looks like the gulf is about to split wide open on the Dem side of the aisle!

The time is right for a political party that rejects the democrats embracing of homosexuality and abortion, that rejects the Republican's embracing of globalist trade policies, and rejects both partyies affection for billions of dollars of deficit spending.

[ncountylee]

no, but it is a pre-eminent Black newspaper with a long and interesting history....looks like the gulf is about to split wide open on the Dem side of the aisle!

True but MSM will smoother any news from reaching general community.

[WOSG]

"Let’s pause just a moment so that we may all disabuse ourselves -- once and for all! -- of the notion that there are jobs Americans are unwilling to do. A quick Internet search of dog waste removal will reveal literally hundreds of Americans that get up each morning and clean up after their neighbors’ pets. If Americans will earn their livings cleaning up doggy-doody for an honest wage they will certainly pick fruit, cook food, build houses and mop floors."

Man, that's a good one.

*Everything* has a price.

[WOSG]

hmmmm, you say the Dem side split .... but he is criticizing the Bush amnesty plan, which begs a question of whether open borders RINOs are going to prevent our ability to make inroads into these communities with an out-of-touch set of policies.

[WOSG]

"So guest worker is a term for a trojan horse. The idea is another recommendation to implement a failed policy. "

The actual *REAL* Senate legislation is NOT a 'guest worker' at all. It's another visa category that can be converted into permanent resident (and then citizen) in about 6 years.

Like H1B, only now for unskilled labor. This is a massive increase in legal immigration, leading to citizenship.

[RepublicanHippy]

Thank God someone is finally talking about this issue. I have mentioned 10 millions times on FR that guestworker programs don't work. The Germans (as well as other European countries) have an enormous problem with their guestworkers. This guy is right. They don't go home. Germany has even paid them to leave, they take the money and jump the train once over the border and go right back to Germany. The idea that they will leave when asked to is a joke. Bush thinks we are all morons.

[RepublicanHippy]

Also, if I were black, I'd be really pi$$ed off about el Gordita Bush's "guestworker" plan. Look how many black men are out of work. They must feel very threatened by the illegals.

[William Terrell]

We must ask ourselves what these men with few skills and little education will do to support themselves if we institutionalize a program whereby low skilled jobs go to guest workers from another country.

But socialists don't want men with few skill and little education to support themselves. Matter of fact, they want more of them to not support themselves. The political power potential for the administrators would be exqusite.

[WOSG]

"The Germans (as well as other European countries) have an enormous problem with their guestworkers. This guy is right. They don't go home. "

Not only DONT they go home, but the specific Senate Amendment that would keep the pro-amnesty side honest in their rhetoric about this 'temporary' worker program - an Amendment that prevented the temporary gues worker' visa from being used as a jumping point for permanent residency - was defeated:

"Senator Cornyn (R-TX) introduced an amendment that would prevent those applying for temporary guest worker visas from becoming what are essentially, permanent residents…or even citizens. Those who wish to become permanent residents or citizens can voluntarily leave the country and apply for these visas from their home country…also known as, the way everybody else has to do it. His argument is that the bill as written is flawed because one can apply for guest worker visas ad infinitum. However you look at at, that’s not “temporary” that’s indefinite residency.

Needless to say, a vote to table the motion (kill the amendment) took place.

Votes: YEA 55 Nay 32"

The Senate bill is now unofficially:
1) Amnesty for 10 million illegal immigrants
2) Large increase in legal immigration via a work visa that can be, within 6 years, turned into permanent residency
3) Various sops to conservatives to distract from the big items in #1 and #2.
4) 30-40 million new Americans in the next 20 years.

[Milhous]

looks like the gulf is about to split wide open on the Dem side of the aisle!

Senate’s Upside-Logic Cake

...

This immigrant competition has hit black Americans especially hard. A recent New York Times report pointed out, "In 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20s were jobless — that is, unable to find work, not seeking it or incarcerated. By 2004, the share had grown to 72 percent, compared with 34 percent of white and 19 percent of Hispanic dropouts."

Old civil-rights groups avoid debate on immigration

...

Yet, many blacks soft-target illegal immigrants for the crisis and loudly claim that they take jobs from unskilled and marginally skilled blacks. Black fury over immigration has cemented an odd alliance between black anti-immigrant activists and GOP conservatives, fringe anti-illegal immigration groups and racially tinged America-first groups.