Posted on 06/25/2010 10:13:56 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a tongue-in-cheek call for immigration reform, farm workers are teaming up with comedian Stephen Colbert in a challenge to 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 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 www.takeourjobs.org, and experienced field hands will train them and connect them to farms.
Three out of four farm workers in the U.S. were born abroad, and more than half are illegal immigrants, according to the Labor Department.
Proponents of tougher immigration laws have argued that farmers have become used to cheap labor. The problem with the UFW's proposition, they argue, is that growers don't want to raise wages and improve working conditions enough to attract Americans.
In either case, 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; work starts before dawn and goes on for 12 or more hours.
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 just how unlikely the prospect of Americans lining up to pick strawberries or grapes is, Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" plans to feature the "Take Our Jobs" campaign on July 8. Requests to Comedy Central and Colbert for comment on the nature of the collaboration weren't immediately answered.
Another way of tackling the issue is to strengthen immigration enforcement, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports strict immigration laws.
It's an idea that might not end up on Comedy Central, but reducing the pool of farm workers would force growers to improve working conditions and raise wages.
"They're daring the American people to get by without farm workers," he said. "What I'm saying is, 'Let's take them up on that and call their bluff.'"
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.
Politicians' and advocates' perspectives on the matter might change if they were to take up the farm workers' offer, said Rubio from Bakersfield.
"The view and the temperature is much different from a row in a field than from inside an air conditioned office," he said. "Is it a challenge? Most certainly, yes. Come on down."
There are *millions* of illegals taking jobs and working in cities like Los Angeles....
Ya ever seen a vegetable field in Los Angeles?
I agree with you. I support the guest worker program. There is something to be said for someone who is willing to leave their family and work in lousy jobs to be able to support alot of extended family. Compare those people to the lazy welfare crowd who have free housing, food, and cell phones. Who would you rather have on your payroll? Until we get rid of this welfare state and make people work hard in school and then a job to make a living, we will spiral downward as a country.
1) To recieve welfare, monthly, you must submit to random drug testing
2) To continue to recieve welfare benefits, you MUST work at a job assigned (such as the farm labor), or you become ineligible.
Sure, teach it at a community college. Give it its own associates/bachelor's degree. Call everyone an "agricultural production technician" and pay them on quantities picked.
And there are more varieties of homegrown....not the same old, same old, chunky grocery strawberries.
And strawberries become a seasonal celebration. In season you’ll have strawberry fests, shortcake contests, etc.
Out of season you’ll pay out the nose for the actual cost of production....as it should be.
Ya, it says there are a hell of a lot of stupid, or naive easily led, gullible Americans, just like you.
downtown NO, but there are plenty in the LA area WITHIN BUS RIDING DISTANCE. We've been hauling produce out OF THEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS!
Oh sure....We have upwards of 30 freaking million illegals in this country, stealing millions of jobs in major cities like Los Angeles, where there are no "Fields" anywhere in sight, but YOU support a program to bring in "Guest Workers"
What kind of bull sh*t is this?
Oh wait....We have someone here suggesting all the *millions* of illegals in So. Cal are all picking strawberries just outside of downtown LA....
Then show me the thousands of buses it would take to transport these millions to these fields daily from the LA area.
Lets hear it slick!
Whitney patented the cotton gin in 1794, 67 years before the Southern rebellion.
In the Obamacare bill, kids can stay on their parents insurance until 26, or have you been in a cave? Twit.
Think again...
Not everyone out here in Internet land buys the wholesale bull sh*t, like you're peddling.
what I was so politely suggesting is that, yes there is field work in the LA area, but it is not limited to that because every other area stems from what is reaped from those fields. But field work IS a GOOD start for a teenager to learn some good wholesome work ethic in the summer when it is at its peek.
Well, since construction demand is down, there is probably a higher perecnatge of “undocumented workers” in the general category of “food processing” than in any other.
That would include field work, orchard picking, mushroom harvesting, processing fish and meat, and working in chicken factories. Even tobacco harvesting depends on temporary labor.
There are probably a few watching other folks’ kids, but that number has probably dropped during the recession. Demand for nannies and new buildings and decks may plummet. But the demand for food at cheap prices will always remain high.
No...this is easier...
Close the Border.
then enforce the employer work laws....cancel illegal’s entitlements except emrgency medical care.
Problem solved. No work, no entitlements...they will go home themselves..they already are.
I own a business that provides entry level employment opportunities for young adults. Over half can’t pass a piss test the others seem to be too interested in themselves to be a valued employee and 1 in 10 have their heads on right. Mostly homeschoolers. If you’ve noticed, it isn’t the ‘80’s anymore Toto.
Screw you pal...I've had enough anti-American swill from your corrupt government to last me a life time.
Maybe you have a bunch of lazy brats in your neck of the wood...Hopefully, they'll be staying in your neighborhood.
Apparently BP is using convict labor on work-release programs to do a lot of the oil-gathering off the shore in La.
Where do you live where the kids are so messed up?
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