many farms across the state facing a huge labor shortage this growing season, as tighter security along the U.S.-Mexico border has crimped the supply of Latino migrant farm workers.
No, they're facing a labor shortage due to a business model built on violating the law. There's been no reduction in LEGAL migrant workers.
Don't tell me, you didn't do a search before you posted this. Right??
:D
I'm new at posting and so nervous, but I did a search and posted it this morning. It wasn't so hard after all (to post) I might do it again sometime!
The seasonal cherries and blueberries are now very cheap in the grocery stores. I don't know if we are importing more or not but if there is a shortage of labor for US growers, it isn't hitting suburbia as yet.
Just the jobs that the 12 to 20 million illegals already here won't do.
In my area, if you are white, you must be at least 16 years old to pick fruit...If you are an illegal Mexican, the entire family is out in the field...
Even back in the 60s, if a farmer could get a family of Mexicans, he wouldn't hire white people...
Hardly anyone is my area has used humans to pick blueberries or cherries in years...
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, isint that too bad. I honestly hope these farmers go bankrupt. Any business that requires ILLEGAL labor to make ends meet does not deserve to be in business.
You know, my finances each month would be in much better shape if I could steal gasoline and natural gas. I think the government should give me amnesty to steal my energy needs, because my job isn't profitable enough with my current business model. If businesses are allowed to skirt the law to make more money, then I should be allowed to do so as well.
Because non-hispanics are justifiably AFRAID to be out in the fields with the hispanics that think they OWN the labor rights.
This article is such BS propaganda! Berry field owners in the US are using an extremely inefficient labor model. Workers stoop and carry boxes back and forth. Europe and New Zealand, for example, produce berries and there the (lesser numbered and better paid) pickers recline on mobile carriers that allow them to pick more per hour and not get worn out.
the berry farmer in this article is just rationaling his poor practices--at our national expense.
Use prison labor and detained illegals?...........hmmmmm
"migrants" must be the new liberal talking point
I saw this story over the weekend about a boatload of "migrants" trying to sneak into florida
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/07/08/migrant.boat/
Cuban migrant dies in high-speed dash to Florida
Coast Guard stops boat loaded with 31 migrants
MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- A woman died after the Coast Guard chased and captured a speedboat carrying 31 Cuban migrants and three suspected immigrant smugglers about 4 miles off the coast of Boca Chica, Florida, on Saturday, the Coast Guard said.
Great summer jobs for kids.
Hey, now is the time for the uber anti-immigrantors to rush in and show they are willing to do the work and get the harvests in - put some action behind the rhetoric
Wrong. there are plenty of people available to pick their berries. Just not at the low illegal immigrant wages they are willing to pay.
I have no sympathy for failing agri-business' which are only failing because they are finding it more difficult to BREAK THE LAW.
Why not simply place a classified ad and hire Americans?
"It seems to me like if they would have some kind of guest worker program in place before they put pressure on the borders. It would make a lot more sense to farmers. There's got to be a better solution than what they're doing," he said.
The government used to have a guest worker program in place. It was called the Bracero program.
Unfortunately, it was killed because greedy farmers, such as yourself decided to hire Mexican migrant workers and pay them less wages than were being paid to American workers. Then, farmers, such as yourself, told the American workers to work for Mexican wages or find another job, which they did. But, not before complaining to their unions, who lobbied Congress to kill the program, which they did.
Down the road, fellow farmer George Thoeny faces the same labor shortage. Like Dobbins and most farmers across the state, he depends on the migrant workers to stay in business. The Hispanic population, he said, is a necessity because white people are unwilling to do agricultural work.
No, Americans are unwilling to do agricultural work in America and be paid Mexican wages.
"I personally can tell you, where I need 300 workers a day, I haven't had one Caucasian person knock on my door and say, 'I want to work for you.' I couldn't do this without the Hispanic people," Thoeny said. "Fifteen years ago we would have a steady stream of young people coming to us to ask for a job. This year, we didn't have one Caucasian person come to us," added Dobbins.
Well, Mr. Dobbins, how much money did you offer them?
Baker, though, agrees with Dobbins, Thoeny and Boyer that a guest worker program is needed for migrant workers.
Such a program would grant migrant workers a permit, for a fee, to come into the U.S. for the harvest months, and then return to Mexico for the rest of the year.
Again, the USA used to have such a program, called the Bracero program, but it was killed by greedy farmers who wanted to maximize their profits by driving down the wages of the American workers. Pay a fair (American) wage and you'll find no shortage of workers.
Then, there's the problem of stoop labor, but I'm sure strawberry farmers, like Mr. Dobbins and Mr. Thoeny don't want to talk about that subject.
I'm ready to start paying $10 for a head of lettuce.
These growers simply have to start paying higher wages.
Guest Worker Requirements
By Peter Mitham
Guest worker requirements. Tree fruit growers in the British Columbia's Okanagan Valley typically require about 3,300 seasonal workers annually. But working with foreign migrants who come to Canada under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is different than working with domestic migrants.
Participating farms must demonstrate an inability to find suitable local workers, for example, usually by showing ads placed, correspondence with employment centers and similar documentation.
Growers must: —provide at least 240 hours worth of work to a minimum of two workers with SAWP;
—provide housing that meets government standards and passes muster with either a municipal inspector, commercial inspection service, or third-party inspector;
—pay workers' return airfare from Mexico (usually about Can. $1,100), and provide rides to and from job sites, if necessary;
—provide medical insurance and access to medical care;
and —pay wages of at least $8.60 an hour, plus 4 percent for vacation pay.
Growers cannot transfer workers to another grower more than once a season. Growers are allowed to recover the cost of visas ($150 per worker, Canadian funds); 6 percent of each worker's accommodation costs to a maximum of $450 per season; a portion of meals; and health insurance, which is granted by a private insurer at a rate of 50 cents a day.
Workers are obliged to pay workers' compensation fees and premiums for employment insurance and government pension plans".
sw
Snort.
And even the ones who might not take jobs, take tax dollars.