Thread: Feinstein goads growers

Feinstein goads growers
Senator asks Fresno farming forces to save guest-worker bill and the U.S. industry.
By Robert Rodriguez / The Fresno Bee
08/24/07 05:50:23


Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday said that a last-ditch effort to revive a guest-worker bill could wither unless farmers step up lobbying efforts.

Without the assistance, Feinstein said, a severe shortage of workers could cripple the $260 billion U.S. agricultural industry and force Americans to get more of their food from foreign sources.

Speaking at a luncheon at Fresno's Sunnyside Country Club, Feinstein said the AgJobs bill is being placed as an amendment to the Farm Bill, a move that faces opposition from Republicans.

But she said persuading certain members of Congress and ultimately the American public to support a bill that provides legal residency and eventually U.S. citizenship to 1.5 million illegal immigrants working in agriculture won't be easy.

Feinstein encouraged farmers to talk openly about the reality of their situation -- employing a work force estimated to be 70% undocumented.

"Maybe there has been some reticence because it is an admission that they hire undocumented workers," she said.

But Feinstein said the American public must come to grips with the fact if it wants to maintain a safe, affordable and U.S.-grown food supply.

Farmers and industry leaders said they have acknowledged that a large number of their workers are undocumented.

"We have come to the table and said that a high percentage of the workers are undocumented," said Manuel Cunha Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno. "And agriculture is doing everything they can to hire a legal and qualified work force."

Others attending Thursday's luncheon talked about a shift in the work force.

"We just don't get the blond-haired and blue-eyed worker who wants to do the hard work that agriculture represents," said Bruce Pherson of Boething Treeland Farms in Woodland Hills. "The labor pool is just not there to do the work [that] needs to be done, unless it comes from foreign workers."

Finding workers has become a mounting problem for farmers.

Feinstein rattled off a list of states that have faced worker shortages -- from asparagus growers in Michigan to raspberry growers in Washington state.

And the problem could grow worse under a plan announced two weeks ago by the Department of Homeland Security.

The federal government is increasing enforcement of regulations on employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers.

Starting in mid-September, the Social Security Administration will begin sending letters to employers whose employees' names and Social Security numbers don't match government records.

Employers could be fined for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, and workers face the possibility of being fired if they can't resolve the mismatch in 90 days.

Pat Ricchiuti, a Clovis-area tree fruit farmer, said the no-match letters could spread fear among workers.

"If we don't get a grip on this, we will be driving people further underground," Ricchiuti said.

Ricchiuti and others say the agricultural guest-worker package known as AgJobs is the best solution.

The bill is being resurrected two months after immigration reform collapsed in the Senate.

Introduced in September 2003, the AgJobs bill wrapped up years of negotiations among farmers and the United Farm Workers union. It would offer legal residency and eventually U.S. citizenship to 1.5 million illegal immigrants now working in agriculture. It also would streamline an existing guest-worker program.
The reporter can be reached at brodriguez@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6327.

http://www.fresnobee.com/business/story/120659.html

We already have a guest worker program and if farmers don't want to use it Adios...........

They can stop their winning and crying because it's not doing any good. Americans know how these greedy guts work.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday said that a last-ditch effort to revive a guest-worker bill could wither unless farmers step up lobbying efforts.

Without the assistance, Feinstein said, a severe shortage of workers could cripple the $260 billion U.S. agricultural industry and force Americans to get more of their food from foreign sources.

Speaking at a luncheon at Fresno's Sunnyside Country Club, Feinstein said the AgJobs bill is being placed as an amendment to the Farm Bill, a move that faces opposition from Republicans.

Just another corrupt official, but this one is one of the worst

If Sen. Dianne Feinstein was dying of thirst... I wouldnt let her drink the sweat off of my jock strap

If Sen. Dianne Feinstein was dying of thirst... I wouldnt let her drink the sweat off of my jock strap

That's funny i don't care who ya are

Don't you just love the remark about "blond-hair blue-eyed not wanting to do the hard work" by (remember this farm) Bruce Pherson of Boething Treeland Farm

Then I think this farm needs to have its subsidies pulled which,in part, are paid for by the "Blond-Haired Blue-Eyed" citizens and who also help subsidize your Dark Haired Brown Eyed workers with Welfare programs since you do not pay them enough to sustain themselves !!!!!!!!

Is this guy racist against europeans ? I definitly think so ! Way to go Bruce,alienate and insult those those you think should save your arse !!!!!!!

They might find workers if they didn't insist on paying low wages! Do we see much American produce in our stores? NO, it comes from other countries, just like our produce is exported. They make more money by exporting than selling it at home.

Originally Posted by cvangel

"We just don't get the blond-haired and blue-eyed worker who wants to do the hard work that agriculture represents," said Bruce Pherson of Boething Treeland Farms in Woodland Hills. "The labor pool is just not there to do the work [that] needs to be done, unless it comes from foreign workers."

Bastard. He conveniently forgets the Okies that were exploited by the California Agbusiness interests in the 20's and 30's. Woody Guthrie was also there, more than a few songs he wrote were about how California Agbusiness was exploiting the Okies. The Okies never had a union like UFW to help them either.