Nursery Growers Association Labor Report Jul 2002

NGA Labor Report - July 2002

A bipartisan effort continues in Congress to make meaningful changes to the H2A Agricultural Guest Worker Program and to provide adjustment of status to many of the qualifying agricultural workers in this Country who do not have legal documentation to work in this Country. Efforts have stalled, as there are several points upon which agreement cannot be reached. There appears to be little chance that anything will be enacted before the summer recess unless the White House becomes involved and brokers a solution. Hundreds of letters have been sent to the White House by agricultural employers asking the President to do just that.

It is hoped that the President will act for the following reasons:

Agricultural employers in many areas are having a difficult time hiring properly documented workers and then, some of the documents are faulty even though they appear valid.

A program needs to be established to stop the inhumane treatment of people trying to sneak into this country. Too many are dying in an effort to get to this Country.

The social fabric of many villages in Mexico is being destroyed because in some villages, there are no men over 17 years of age except for the elderly because they are all up in the US and fear going home because it is too expensive to re-cross the border. A program must be set up to allow workers to come into this Country, work, and then return home to their families.

It is not too late to petition the President to intervene on this matter. If action is not taken before the recess, possibly something could be done after the elections.