Thu 18 Dec 2008
[KR: I got the following post from Farmworker Justice, an organization that advocates for migrant and seasonal workers. Apparently, the administration published the new rule in the federal register this morning. The rule has generated opposition from several organizations and newspaper editorial boards.]
Guest post by Farmworker Justice
December 18, 2008
This morning, the Bush Administration finalized midnight changes to the H2A guestworker program that slash wages and worker protections for our nation’s farmworkers. These changes have been denounced by groups like the United Farm Workers, National Council La Raza and Farmworker Justice.
The new regulations will slash wage rates for both U.S. and foreign workers by:
- eliminating the “prevailing wage†salary requirements;
- reducing employers’ obligations to recruit U.S. workers for these jobs before hiring vulnerable guestworkers; and,
- cutting oversight of the program that could detect and curtail labor abuses.
The New York Times, Miami Herald and LA Times published editorials this week condemning the actions and several key Congressional leaders have spoken out against the change. We’ve released a detailed report about the abuses of the current guestworker program and our lawyers have written a short two page summary of the new regulations.
[..]
Here are some links relevant to this issue.
Rule in Federal Register
http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=63559017592+2+1+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Harvesting Justice: Congressional Leaders Condemn 11th hour swipe at farm workers
http://www.harvestingjustice.org/index.php/immigration-labor-rights/273-congressional-leaders-condemn-q11th-hour-swipe-at-farm-workersq-as-bush-guestworker-plan-is-finalized
New York Times editorial
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/opinion/15mon2.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
Miami Herald editorial
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/story/813206.html
Los Angeles Times editorial
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-visas16-2008dec16,0,4961303.story
UFW online petition:
http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/h2a_dec08?qp_source=web
December 18th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Hey. My name is Maria and I’m part of a group of student activists working towards the passage of the DREAM Act (www.dreamACTivist.org). I wanted to make you aware of an idea being discussed and voted on over at Change.org regarding this important issue. The link is http://www.change.org/ideas/view/pass_the_dream_act_now.
We currently have over 1300 votes and are one of the top 3 ideas on the whole website. However, the second round of voting begins in January 5th and the top 10 ideas will be presented to the Obama administration and will have a lot of publicity, something we desperately need. I urge you to register (it only takes a couple of minutes) and vote for this idea and put a widget of it on your blog to make others aware of this important cause. Also, please vote for the other immigration ideas on the top 3 list to make sure they make it to the second round.
Thank you so much for your help!