US: United Farm Workers denounce Bush Administration change to H2A agricultural guest worker program

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=35389

The Bush Administration has announced major changes in the nation's H2A agricultural guest worker program. The United Farm Workers of America say it would make it easier for growers to slash the pay of domestic farm workers, reduce housing benefits and make it easier to hire imported foreign laborers instead of U.S. field workers. "In the midst of a critical economic crisis, we cannot afford to expand guest workers programs and reduce the wages of the lowest-paid U.S. workers," said Arturo S. Rodriguez, UFW president. "This parting gesture from the Bush Administration symbolizes its failure to work with the Latino community on this key issue."

The new regulations mean that farm employers will no longer be responsible for certifying that labor shortages exist and engage in recruitment of U.S. farm workers before requesting imported H2A foreign field workers. In addition, for the first time domestic workers could be paid less and receive fewer benefits than their H2A guest worker counterparts according to the union which claims that the administration has failed to enforce existing rules. The UFW alleges that last summer six farm workers died in California fields due to heat-related causes and the growers' negligence in providing water and shade in violation of a state regulation issued at the the request of the UFW by Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger. Such working conditions are horrendous and deadly; the UFW argues and need to be improved.

"Slashing wages and reducing benefits for farm workers is not the solution we need," Rodriguez continued. "These changes from President Bush ignore the real issue of providing a safe and reliable agricultural work force with a blatant disregard by the Bush administration for the needs of the fastest growing voter population in the country." The UFW is callling on Congress to act quickly to reverse these regulatory changes as hiring for the upcoming season begins.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

1. This really isn't a change in republican policy, the bottom line

always seems to trump everything.