Dan Rather, Stephen Colbert, Farmworkers and Immigration Policy

Written by Bruce Goldstein Wednesday, 13 October 2010 16:15

Dan Rather hosted a TV story and published an op-ed piece, "Help Not Wanted" in the HuffingtonPost, about farmworkers in the United States who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and have applied for jobs with agricultural employers but have been rejected, fired or forced to quit and replaced by guestworkers under the H-2A program.  The piece focuses on Georgia growers and local workers.  Rather goes on to question whether Stephen Colbert was "duped" into believing that very few U.S. workers want jobs on farms by the United Farm Workers "Take Our Jobs Campaign."

Yes, there really are some US workers who want agricultural jobs.  And yes, the H-2A program is truly and deeply problematic because the growers prefer vulnerable foreign workers and often will discriminate against U.S. workers.  Read about the H-2A programs' inherent problems on our website.

But the reality is that the majority of the farm labor force – hundreds of thousands people – are undocumented and the agricultural system would collapse without them.  Of course, wages and working conditions should be much better in agriculture, but such improvements would not fundamentally change the reality of who performs farm work.

Rather's piece notes that Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, a Republican with a long history on these issues, recently proposed legislation.  His new bill is similar to what he proposed in the 1990’s.  It failed then and it should fail now.  It is based on lowering government oversight of the H-2A program , lowering labor standards, eliminating the ability of legal aid lawyers to protect the rights of guestworkers, and other provisions that would supply farmers with cheap foreign labor with no rights.  U.S. workers would suffer even more than they do now.  Undocumented workers would not have a path to legal immigration status and citizenship.  It contains the worst of every proposed solution.

The answer is the AgJOBS legislation.  It would reform the H-2A program in balanced ways so that U.S. workers are granted access to jobs and so that foreign workers are not so exploited (and would have meaningful access to the federal courts for the first time to protect their rights).  AgJOBS also would create an earned legalization program to allow undocumented, experienced farmworkers to obtain legal immigration status.  The AgJOBS bill is a reasonable compromise between farmworker organizations and employers; read about it. 

So, Mr. Rather was correct that the H-2A program does abuse U.S. workers and we need to remedy those ills, which have persisted for decades.  Stephen Colbert also is correct that we need an answer to the reality that hundreds of thousands of productive farmworkers lack authorized immigration status and should be given the opportunity to earn visas.   

The Powerful and the Powerless

Written by Bruce Goldstein Sunday, 10 October 2010 09:33

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, mesmerized by the Metropolitan Opera's production of Wagner's "Das Rheingold," wrote,

"It unfolds with mythic sweep, telling the most compelling story of all, the one I cover every day in politics:

What happens when the powerless become powerful and the powerful become powerless?"

How is this relevant to farmworker justice?  Stephen Colbert recently testified before Congress and was asked, at the very end of the hearing why he had spent his time working on a farm for a day and coming to the House of Representatives immigration subcommittee, said:

"I like talking about people who dont have any power. And this seems like one of the least powerful people in the United States are migrant workers who come and do our work but dont have any rights as a result. And yet, we still invite them to come here. And at the same time, ask them to leave. And thats an interesting contradiction to me."

Unfortunately, as the New York Times recently said in an editorial about Congressional hearings on immigration policy, "We are not sure all committee members got it. We believe a lot more Americans would, if their elected leaders talked as bluntly and as persuasively as Mayor Bloomberg and Mr. Murdoch — and with as much heart as Mr. Colbert."  Nor did all pundits get it, as we noted in a letter to the Washington Post.

We look forward to the day when migrant farmworkers gain a little bit of power to control their own destinies.  We expect they will be more respectful of the less powerful than those who currently wield power.

 

Socially Responsible Wine Tasting in D.C. -- December 8

Written by Bruce Goldstein Thursday, 07 October 2010 17:57

The Farmworker Justice Socially Responsible Wine Tasting in Washington, D.C. will occur on Wednesday evening, December 8.  It is an opportunity for an enjoyable evening of tasting wine from vineyards where farmworkers are treated well and have a voice at work.  It is also an opportunity to support the vital advocacy, litigation and education work of Farmworker Justice, empowering migrant farmworkers to improve their immigration status, labor rights, health,  occupational safety and access to justice.

 Our informative, entertaining wine expert, Michael Franz, will join us.  And the cello music by Allen Kadis will once again accompany the event.  We thank the AFL-CIO for again hosting the Socially Responsible Wine Tasting in the wonderful venue of the Samuel Gompers hall.

This year Farmworker Justice received a challenge grant from an anonymous donor who pledged $5,000 if we obtain at least $20,000 in sponsorships.  Sponsorships range from $250 to $5,000 (see the list below).  Information is available on our website under “special events” at http://www.farmworkerjustice.org/special-events/2010-wine-tasting.  Individual tickets are available at $90.  You may pay by credit card at that website page or send a check to the address below. 

 Please pass this invitation on to friends, colleagues and others who have an interest in helping farmworkers build a brighter future.  We hope to see you on Wednesday, December 8 at the ninth annual Socially Responsible Wine Tasting.

 Wine Tasting Sponsorships

Magnum $5,000 (10 tickets)

Premier Cru $2,500 (6 tickets)

Harvester $1,000 (4 tickets)

Cultivator $500 ( 2 tickets)

Taster $250 (1 ticket)

Sponsors will be identified in the invitation to the wine tasting and the event.  Farmworker Justice is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. 

 Individual tickets $90.

Note on Error Messages for Blog: We're Working On It

Written by Bruce Goldstein Thursday, 07 October 2010 17:52

Some browsers are noting a problem with our blog, saying there is a security issue.  We're working on fixing it.  Our security protection is extensive but apparently, as the military will tell you, nothing is unhackable.  Thanks for your patience.  It's always helpful to have protection against viruses and malware on your computer.

Washington Post Publishes FJ's Letter to Editor: When Stephen Colbert Got Serious

Written by Bruce Goldstein Saturday, 02 October 2010 08:18

The Washington Post today printed our letter to the editor about a very disappointing column by Post columnist Ruth Marcus.  In the paper, the headline for my letter is "When Stephen Colbert Got Serious."  The title online is different.   The letter is below and is at  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/01/AR2010100107145_pf.html.  The Ruth Marcus column is at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/28/AR2010092804802.html

Antics aside, Stephen Colbert made good points on farmworkers

Saturday, October 2, 2010; A12

 Washington Post

In her Sept. 29 op-ed, "Colbert's circus tent," Ruth Marcus criticized the decision to invite comedian Stephen Colbert to an immigration subcommittee hearing regarding farmworkers and immigration policy. The column missed an opportunity to discuss important issues and policy responses that Mr. Colbert and other witnesses raised.

The public's attention is rarely drawn to migrant farmworkers. Many politicians want to avoid discussing immigration policy because it has been turned into a wedge issue by ideologues. Referring to the hearing with Mr. Colbert as "farce" perhaps makes for a stimulating column, but is yet another way of avoiding the topic.

The real news is that Mr. Colbert at several points in his unconventional testimony poignantly noted the problems faced by migrant farmworkers and farm operators and suggested that Congress seriously consider a compromise policy solution known as the Agricultural Job Oppportunities, Benefits and Security Act.

The hearing presented a rare opportunity to draw the public's attention to problems faced by farmworkers and farm operators and their "strange bedfellows" coalition that produced a reasonable policy response. The column could have discussed the merits of Mr. Colbert's appearance and the issues that led to the hearing. Migrant farmworkers deserve better.

Bruce Goldstein, Washington

The writer is president of Farmworker Justice.

FLOC's Tobacco Campaign Calls for Pressure on JPMorganChase

Written by Bruce Goldstein Tuesday, 28 September 2010 16:10

The Farm Labor Organzing Committee, AFL-CIO, has organized a substantial number of North Carolina's tobacco workers.  Now justice needs to come to more of the state's tobacco pickers.  Reynolds tobacco purchases the crop and must take responsibility for the way farmworkers are treated in the fields.  FLOC is asking for your help in persuading Reynolds to change its ways.  Reynolds depends on JPMorganChase, a major financial company, and JPMorganChase's actions can help bring about change at Reynolds.  FLOC is aksing us to send a strong message to JPMorganChase.  Visit FLOC's website to learn how you can make a difference for North Carolina's farmworkers.