North Carolina PING!
Posted on 09/09/2003 4:18:39 AM PDT by mtbrandon49
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Mexican government will investigate the treatment of farmworkers who are part of a federal "guest worker" program in North Carolina.
The review is the result of petitions filed with the Mexican government by two advocacy groups early this year -- Farmworker Justice Fund in Washington and the Central Independiente de Obreros Agrcolas y Campesinos in Mexico.
They contend these farmworkers in North Carolina are denied benefits, including wages and the ability to form unions.
A growers representative called the move "a publicity stunt."
The Mexican government offered few details when it announced the review last week. But Mexican officials did say they would consult with the United States and receive information from the farmworker advocacy groups and other interested parties. A public report will be compiled from the findings.
"We are pleased that the government of Mexico concluded that the plight of migrant farmworkers in North Carolina deserves attention," said Bruce Goldstein, co-executive director of the Farmworker Justice Fund. "The treatment of farmworkers under the H-2A guest worker program is a travesty and must be addressed."
Goldstein said the advocacy groups targeted North Carolina because the state draws more H-2A workers than any other, thanks to the N.C. Growers Association, which provides workers to more than 1,000 farms.
The advocates maintain that workers are routinely denied the ability to make workers' compensation claims. They allege that they are denied the right to organize unions, prevented from receiving visitors such as labor lawyers in employer-provided housing, and blacklisted from being hired again if they push for better treatment under the program's regulations.
Their petition also complains that workers are given contracts that exceed the growing season. That means workers must sit idle and unpaid at the end of their contracts to be reimbursed for transportation costs home. Many leave early and shoulder those costs themselves, advocates say.
Stan Eury, executive director of the N.C. Growers Association, which recruited about 9,000 farmworkers this year and brought them to North Carolina under temporary H-2A agricultural worker visas, scoffed at the complaints.
"We have actually a very good record with farmworkers and think we do a very good job," said Eury, who had not seen the advocacy groups' petition.
Eury maintains that farmworkers in the program are treated better than those who come to the United States illegally. He suggested that the probe's timing is meant to sway debate in Washington about whether to expand and revise the program, including proposals to reduce mandated wages for H-2A workers.
"It's more of a publicity stunt than anything," Eury said.
U.S. Department of Labor spokespeople said Monday that issuing an official comment would be premature.
Lori Elmer, a lawyer with Legal Aid of North Carolina's farmworker unit in Raleigh, said she was pleased to hear that the Mexican government would look into some of the issues.
"The fact that North Carolina was chosen as a focus of investigation," Elmer said, "should tell North Carolina that there's a problem here."
North Carolina PING!
Seems the INS should get involved in this. I'll bet there are some CRIMINAL aliens scattered amongst the "legal" H2-A workers.
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