From MorganHillTimes.com, Blair Tellers, 31 Oct 2011. “With the way the economy is, you’d think we’d have all kinds of people who want the work, but U.S. citizens here don’t want to do this kind of work,” he said, during a winded account of the immediate and long-term side effects stemming from a major crackdown … Continue reading
From FresnoBee.com, Michael Doyle, Bee Washington Bureau, 4 Oct 2011. Bill requires workers to prove work eligibility. WASHINGTON – Advocates for farmers and farmworkers warned federal lawmakers Tuesday against a mandatory employee-verification program, underscoring the high hurdles ahead. While the Republican-controlled House of Representatives pursues the E-Verify program, the Democratic-controlled Senate is leery. A hearing … Continue reading
From VCStar.com, Ventura County, Star, Michael Collins, 4 Oct 2011. WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced Tuesday that she intends to file emergency legislation calling for the creation of a five-year agriculture guest worker program so that growers will have the labor force desperately needed to work the fields. Feinstein, D-Calif., said her proposal, which … Continue reading
From AZCentral.com, The Arizona Republic, 29 May 2011. A piecemeal approach to immigration reform is the politically easy option, but there will be unintended negative consequences unless Congress addresses the whole problem. An effective system to verify a job applicant’s eligibility to work in the United States is an essential part of immigration reform. So are tough employer sanctions … Continue reading
From TheProduceNews.com, Chip Carter, 23 May 2011. U.S. watermelon fields are pumping out all-time-high volumes of product this season. Growers of other commodities in Mexico, Texas, Florida and Georgia have produced bumper crops as well. But the problem is there are not enough workers on hand to harvest those crops. For years, labor has been … Continue reading
From TheProduceNews.com, “USDA industry advisory group tackles range of issues at two-day meeting” by Joan Murphy, 9 Mar 2011. ARLINGTON, VA — Health care reform, agricultural labor shortfalls and produce safety regulations were just some of the items on produce industry’s agenda at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee meeting … Continue reading
