Thread: Bush considering easing rules on foreign farm workers

One last kick in the nuts to American labor from Bush before he leaves...

Farmers would have an easier and cheaper time securing foreign guest workers under pending Bush administration rules.

The controversial changes to the so-called H-2A guest-worker program could cut wages and speed worker recruitment. They also would relax requirements for providing foreign workers with housing and transportation.

"The Department of Labor is going to weaken oversight and enforcement," Bruce Goldstein, the executive director of the Farmworker Justice Fund, charged Wednesday.

A Labor Department spokesman said Wednesday night that the final rules would be made public Thursday and published in the Federal Register on Dec. 18, which means they'd take effect two days before Barack Obama is sworn in as president Jan. 20.

Currently, about 75,000 foreign guest workers obtain visas annually under the H-2A program. The program is an agricultural cousin to the H-1B visa program favored by the high-tech industry, designed to aid employers who are unable to find U.S. workers for specialized tasks.

Earlier this year, for instance, the big California lettuce-growing firm Tanimura & Antle brought in H-2A workers. Texas sweet potato farmers, East Coast apple growers and, particularly in the past, Florida sugarcane growers have employed the program. North Carolina leads all other states in the use of H-2A workers.

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 12/10/2008 | Bush considering easing rules on foreign farm workers

yep you are right again.. one more kick in the teeth to Americans

Originally Posted by Blueneck

One last kick in the nuts to American labor from Bush before he leaves...



McClatchy Washington Bureau | 12/10/2008 | Bush considering easing rules on foreign farm workers

Let have a drink blue, and toast whats left of the country and economy. It sort of gives a new meaning to "bottoms up"!

They also would relax requirements for providing foreign workers with housing and transportation.

I can't help but think the "housing" part involves a sub-prime mortgage on an overpriced previously foreclosed home.

If they're willing to take the jobs for less they clearly deserve those jobs more.

If American workers are going to ever be truly competitive again they need to stop feeling entitled to what's not theirs.

Originally Posted by Feslin

If they're willing to take the jobs for less they clearly deserve those jobs more.

If American workers are going to ever be truly competitive again they need to stop feeling entitled to what's not theirs.

The minimum wage in Mexico is a dollar an hour. Don't you think it's just a bit ridiculous to pretend Americans can actually compete with that?

Originally Posted by Blueneck

I can't help but think the "housing" part involves a sub-prime mortgage on an overpriced previously foreclosed home.

Lots of foreclosed homes that require renters Blue.

Originally Posted by Blueneck

The minimum wage in Mexico is a dollar an hour. Don't you think it's just a bit ridiculous to pretend Americans can actually compete with that?

Nope. We have plenty of useless idiots coming out of our high schools, the perfect dollar-an-hour workers.

Originally Posted by Feslin

Nope. We have plenty of useless idiots coming out of our high schools, the perfect dollar-an-hour workers.

Rats, but he is correct!

This is not a terrible idea actually. I don't think it is a great idea. I don't think it is even a good idea. I think it may have merit in the larger scheme of things.