Immigrant farm workers' challenge: Take our jobs

[theeedude]

Hey look, someone who supports shit jobs via funneling them underclass employees to work them.

I, however, would rather see that job be unfilled and replaced with a more expensive one that would attract workers.

Right, because US farmers totally don't have to compete with foreign ones.
You would rather US farms turn into dust bowl, and make food more expensive for families that are trying to make ends meet, than let people who want to work those farms work on them.

 

[theeedude]

The penalty for speeding is paying a fine. The penalty for entering a country illegally is being deported.


Do you really not see the difference?

I do, and I don't want the cops enforcing either too vigorously. Of course if someone is a troublemaker, deport them, but if they want to be cheap labor and support our agriculture, just look the other way. It's like going 70 in a 65.

 

[Slew Foot]

How about this, for every farm workers thats actually working, we make them a citizen and send Mexico one of our welfare leeches in return?

 

[Acanthus]

I'm fine with fruit costing more or mechanization playing a larger role as rudder suggested. People might want to do the work if the labor market had a floor. Thanks to illegals, it doesn't.

Tell me then, how to you feel about jobs being sent to mexico or overseas?

Isn't what you're saying akin to protectionism?

I'm not talking about laws or anything here, just conceptually.

 

[theeedude]

How about this, for every farm workers thats actually working, we make them a citizen and send Mexico one of our welfare leeches in return?

Conservatives would cry Amnesty!!!

 

[rudder]

So is speeding.

Speeding is just a traffic citation. Entering the country illegally, although a civil offense also, results in deportation (when enforced). If you get deported more than once, I believe it becomes a felony... of course two speeding tickets is just that... two speeding tickets.

People shouldn't speed and people shouldn't enter the country illegally.

 

[rudder]

Tell me then, how to you feel about jobs being sent to mexico or overseas?

Isn't what you're saying akin to protectionism?

I'm not talking about laws or anything here, just conceptually.

If they are low paying manufacturing jobs sure. Otherwise we would have to subsidize those factory workers that make bra clasps, t-shirts, etc... because the company would struggle to sell them after paying the labor in this country. The U.S. still produces more dollar wise than any other nation (for now). We just need less people to do it. Airplanes, heavy equipment, technology products, etc.

 

[dahunan]

We should be embarrassed ...

All the Fundamentalists complaining about "illegals" when your Government knows full well where they are and lets them stay..

They know and have known the bolded part below forever

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100624/ap_on_en_tv/us_immigration_take_our_jobs


According to the Labor Department, three out of four farm workers were born abroad, and more than half are illegal immigrants.

SO... is this the fault of the human beings who come here to better their lives or do we blame more unrestrained Capitalism courtesy of the US Govt?

 

[dahunan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jaskalas View Post Hey look, someone who supports shit jobs via funneling them underclass employees to work them. I, however, would rather see that job be unfilled and replaced with a more expensive one that would attract workers. Right, because US farmers totally don't have to compete with foreign ones. You would rather US farms turn into dust bowl, and make food more expensive for families that are trying to make ends meet, than let people who want to work those farms work on them.

I appreciate that observation...
Without the illegals or agrivisa workers the past 10+ years doing 75-80% of the labor that industry would have been crushed...

 

[Kirby]

Right, because US farmers totally don't have to compete with foreign ones.
You would rather US farms turn into dust bowl, and make food more expensive for families that are trying to make ends meet, than let people who want to work those farms work on them.

lol, you complain about higher food prices for families "trying to make ends meet" by supporting wages of pocket change and lint.

 

[dahunan]

Quote: Originally Posted by senseamp View Post Right, because US farmers totally don't have to compete with foreign ones. You would rather US farms turn into dust bowl, and make food more expensive for families that are trying to make ends meet, than let people who want to work those farms work on them. lol, you complain about higher food prices for families "trying to make ends meet" by supporting wages of pocket change and lint. __________________

All money must come from somewhere.
Raise food prices.. doesn't mean wages will follow. There will still be humans willing to work just to stay alive and farmers willing to hire just that group.

You don't pick beans to raise a family.

 

[Kirby]

All money must come from somewhere.
Raise food prices.. doesn't mean wages will follow. There will still be humans willing to work just to stay alive and farmers willing to hire just that group.

The same thing was said about child labor.

You don't pick beans to raise a family.

Then maybe you shouldn't have one.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

It's too bad the illegals in the construction industry and other non-farm industries won't issue the same challenge.

 

[Specop 007]

Modern day slavery....how nice.

When the "slave" can drop his tools, tell you to piss off and walk away it doesnt really fit the description of "slavery" there turbo.

But its an amazingly good emotional argument I suppose isnt it. Its just.....feels.....good.

 

[JockoJohnson]

When the "slave" can drop his tools, tell you to piss off and walk away it doesnt really fit the description of "slavery" there turbo.

But its an amazingly good emotional argument I suppose isnt it. Its just.....feels.....good.

Where are they going to walk away to...Mexico/Home Depot/etc.? They will still get slave wages. It doesn't make it right and the employers should be fined. I don't like that gov't is looking the other way for employers or the illegals.

And addressing the article: who has a problem with legal immigrants? It seems most everyone has a problem with ILLEGAL immigrants but don't let facts get in the way of the fictional fantasy land that people love to paint when it comes to illegal immigration.

Leaving out that one little word makes a huge difference. I know they aren't stupid or ignorant but they are doing it on purpose when they leave it out. People who do that may think they will get people to sympathize with their cause for illegal immigrants but it is going to backfire....unless you're a fucking retard and believe the shit they spew.

 

[bfdd]

It's too bad the illegals in the construction industry and other non-farm industries won't issue the same challenge.

Because they're making way more money. Also, like nick said are these legal immigrant workers or illegal immigrant workers? If they're illegal then we should put pressure on our gov't to go after this group because obviously they're a huge group of illegals. If they are legal immigrants, then if I needed a job I would take up the challenge. I've worked in worse.

 

[OutHouse]

They will still get slave wages

i didnt know slaves got paid.

 

[Modelworks]

A few problems with some of their statements

During summer, when the harvest of fruits and vegetables is in full swing in California's Central Valley, temperatures hover in the triple digits. Heat exhaustion is one of the reasons farm labor consistently makes the Bureau of Labor Statistics' top ten list of the nation's most dangerous jobs.

Any farmer knows that you don't pick crops in the middle of the day.
You pick early in the morning . I have never seen workers here in the fields at noon on 100 degree days. They may be illegal but they aren't stupid.

Second, expect long days. Growers have a small window to pick fruit before it is overripe.

The window isn't that small. It isn't like if the crop isn't picked within 24 hours it will perish. Plenty of farmers work half a day getting their crops picked. It even leads to complaints among workers because they want a full days pay but can't get it if the farmer only needs them for 6 hours. So they try to find second jobs they can do in the afternoons.

And don't count on a big paycheck. Farm workers are excluded from federal overtime provisions, and small farms don't even have to pay the minimum wage. Fifteen states don't require farm labor to be covered by workers compensation laws.

They forget those same farms that don't follow federal regulations also don't withhold from the pay. Most pay in cash.

Any takers?

I would do it if I needed the money. I did it before and I can do it again. Nothing wrong with working in fields to earn money.

"The reality is farmworkers who are here today aren't taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let's see what happens."

If it is so unbearable why are they working these jobs ? Why not get a better job somewhere that follows federal law ? Or is the need for legal status to get those jobs really the problem ?

"Our county, our economy, rely heavily on the work of immigrant and unauthorized workers," he said. "I would encourage all our national leaders to come visit Kern County and to spend one day, or even half a day, in the shoes of these farm workers."

Judging by the amount of physical work leaders do I wouldn't expect them to like farm work.

His organization supports AgJobs, a bill currently in the Senate which would allow those who have worked in U.S. agriculture for at least 150 days in the previous two years to get legal status.

A bill that would encourage people to break the law by coming here illegally , work for someone who employs them illegally, and make them legal because of it ? Only in California.

 

[nick1985]

i didnt know slaves got paid.

 

[Throckmorton]

George W. Bush had the right idea with the guest worker program. If you make it so migrant workers can come here legally, they aren't illegal, therefore the illegal immigration problem is gone. Small government free marketeers should be all for that.

 

[theeedude]

These illegals get the market wages that conservatives want us all to get when they campaign against minimum wage.

 

[werepossum]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100624/ap_on_en_tv/us_immigration_take_our_jobs

Immigrant farm workers' challenge: Take our jobs

By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Writer Juliana Barbassa, Associated Press Writer – Thu Jun 24, 5:42 pm ET
SAN FRANCISCO – In a tongue-in-cheek call for immigration reform, farm workers are teaming up with comedian Stephen Colbert to challenge unemployed Americans: Come on, take our jobs.

Farm workers are tired of being blamed by politicians and anti-immigrant activists for taking work that should go to Americans and dragging down the economy, said Arturo Rodriguez, the president of the United Farm Workers of America.

So the group is encouraging the unemployed — and any Washington pundits or anti-immigrant activists who want to join them — to apply for the some of thousands of agricultural jobs being posted with state agencies as harvest season begins.

All applicants need to do is fill out an online form under the banner "I want to be a farm worker" at http://www.takeourjobs.org, and experienced field hands will train them and connect them to farms.

According to the Labor Department, three out of four farm workers were born abroad, and more than half are illegal immigrants.

Proponents of tougher immigration laws have argued that farmers have become used to cheap labor and don't want to raise wages enough to draw in other workers.

Those who have done the job have some words of advice for applicants: First, dress appropriately.

During summer, when the harvest of fruits and vegetables is in full swing in California's Central Valley, temperatures hover in the triple digits. Heat exhaustion is one of the reasons farm labor consistently makes the Bureau of Labor Statistics' top ten list of the nation's most dangerous jobs.

Second, expect long days. Growers have a small window to pick fruit before it is overripe.

And don't count on a big paycheck. Farm workers are excluded from federal overtime provisions, and small farms don't even have to pay the minimum wage. Fifteen states don't require farm labor to be covered by workers compensation laws.

Any takers?

"The reality is farmworkers who are here today aren't taking any American jobs away. They work in often unbearable situations," Rodriguez said. "I don't think there will be many takers, but the offer is being made. Let's see what happens."

To highlight how unlikely the prospect of Americans lining up to pick strawberries or grapes, Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" plans to feature the "Take Our Jobs" campaign on July 8.

The campaign is being played for jokes, but the need to secure the right to work for immigrants who are here is serious business, said Michael Rubio, supervisor in Kern County, one of the biggest ag producing counties in the nation.

"Our county, our economy, rely heavily on the work of immigrant and unauthorized workers," he said. "I would encourage all our national leaders to come visit Kern County and to spend one day, or even half a day, in the shoes of these farm workers."

Hopefully, the message will go down easier with some laughs, said Manuel Cunha, president of the California grower association Nisei Farmers League, who was not a part of the campaign.

"If you don't add some humor to this, it's enough to get you drinking, and I don't mean Pepsi," Cunha said, dismissing the idea that Americans would take up the farm workers' offer.

California's agriculture industry launched a similar campaign in 1998, hoping to recruit welfare recipients and unemployed workers to work on farms, he said. Three people showed up.

"Give us a legal, qualified work force. Right now, farmers don't know from day to day if they're going to get hammered by ICE," he said, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "What happens to my labor pool?"

His organization supports AgJobs, a bill currently in the Senate which would allow those who have worked in U.S. agriculture for at least 150 days in the previous two years to get legal status.

The bill has been proposed in various forms since the late 1990s, with backing from the United Farm Workers of America and other farming groups, but has never passed.


Hopefully this is not a repost.

But apparently there are lots of seasonal farm jobs to be had. This organization is working to make them available to more people.

Obviously the OP and this man have never spent any time on a construction site, or a meat packing plant, or a carpet mill - or are just lacking in basic honesty. Only a minority of illegals work in the fields. Drywallers have been almost entirely taken over by illegals, so that a job which paid roughly the same as a plumber a couple decades ago now pays half of that. The quality of the work shows it, too. Masons are losing out to illegals as well, and in many areas even the highly trained trades such as plumbing and electrical are being taken over by illegals, with one licensed master and one interpreter. All these jobs were being done by Americans and/or legal aliens before this.

Even within field work, those jobs were being done before. I've picked produce myself, including a summer picking tomatoes. It's hard work, but it was a job when I was too young to drive into town for a better job. Hard work is valuable, especially when one is young, to establish the need for education if nothing else. Besides that, some people simply aren't bright enough to do more skilled work. By bringing in a huge number of unskilled illegal competitors we have doomed those people to a life of poverty no matter how hard they work.

 

[Craig234]

You know... if these people did not allow themselves to work at slave wages...

LOL

LOL!!!!! seriously, literally.

 

[Craig234]

You know who worked in the fields before migrants? High school kids.

Really?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_of_Shame

 

[glenn1]

I'm fine with fruit costing more or mechanization playing a larger role as rudder suggested. People might want to do the work if the labor market had a floor. Thanks to illegals, it doesn't.

Evidently the non-illegals don't bring additional productivity or skills to their employer to justify a higher wage than illegals. I look for a better argument than basically that I should pay you a higher wage just because you aren't Mexican.