Farmworkers headed to Tallahassee again

Farmworkers headed to Tallahassee again

By MICHAEL PELTIER (Contact)
5:09 p.m., Sunday, March 8, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/mar ... assee-aga/

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Charlie Crist took little time to distance himself from his Republican predecessor when he entered the governor’s mansion a little over two years ago.

The moderate Republican discarded what seemed like gospel only a few short years before by restoring rights to felons who had done their time and accepting global warming as a scientific likelihood. More recently, he even sided with President Barack Obama, a move that caused Rush Limbaugh to rise from the ashes.

Crist may surprise folks again this week.

Groups from across the state are traveling to Tallahassee to hold a demonstration at the Old Capitol at noon Monday. The group, an assembly of human rights groups including the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, wants Crist to publicly endorse efforts to end the modern-day slavery that endangers workers in the state’s agricultural sector.

Over the past decade, modern-day slavery in Florida’s fields has led to seven federal prosecutions, the latest of which came last year. CIW has been involved with many of the investigations and subsequent convictions, receiving accolades by such stoic agencies as the FBI for their efforts.

What the group has not been successful at is meeting with a sitting Florida governor. Like his predecessors Jeb Bush and Lawton Chiles, Crist has refused to meet with the group over workers issues including slavery, working conditions and higher pay for tomato pickers.

Chiles and Bush said they didn’t want to get in the middle of a scrap between the coalition and growers, who say the coalition does not represent rank and file workers. The cold shoulder has frustrated coalition members, who have received international recognition from some pretty mainstream and reputable groups.

Sterling Ivey, spokesman for Crist, said the governor is not planning to meet with the group Monday. Instead he’s sending Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon.

“We have asked Secretary Sheldon to meet with the coalition since DCF handles human trafficking cases... (I) believe it is being scheduled now (if not already) through his office,â€

I am all for any laws that will get the illegals out of our country.