Georgia governor suggests ex-convicts replace immigrants as farm workers

[alp227]

On Tuesday, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal released the results of a survey that he had requested from the state agriculture commissioner on farm labor shortages in Georgia. The survey found that there are approximately 11,080 unfilled farm jobs in the state.

In response to the report, Deal suggested that people who are on criminal probation could fill the job openings: “There are 100,000 probationers statewide, 8,000 of which are in the Southwest region of the state and 25 percent of which are unemployed.” According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, although probationers in Georgia are required to find employment if possible, state officials cannot compel them to take one particular job over another.

The director of the American Probation and Parole Association told Bloomberg that the temporary nature of agricultural work makes it unsuitable for people on criminal probation who need to rebuild their lives in a more permanent job. He compared Deal’s suggestion to the “work farms” of the past, when convicts could be sentenced to hard labor in the fields.

Full: http://washingtonindependent.com/111157/georgia-governor-suggests-ex-convicts-replace-immigrants-as-farm-workers

Deal signed a bill a few weeks ago similar to Arizona's SB 1070.

[Rageneau]

1. Can these prison workers form a union and go on strike?

I bet not.

[jwirr]

2. I am wondering if they will even get paid? At the historical society

that I worked for we used volunteers from the jails to help when we opened the museum for the summer. They worked for the day and we served lunch. From my experience they were glad to get out of the jail but they did not get paid. We are a small county and prisoners were local prisoners. I did not like the program then and don't trust this one either. However, using prisoners in emergencies has been done for a long time - sand bagging in floods, etc. If the crops are rotting - the prisoners may actually feel they are helping in an emergency.

[asjr]

3. Can't you just see that? The Master and

his slaves working the plantation.