Willing U.S. Workers Ignored, Union Says


Labor Complaint Filed Against Lettuce Grower
Willing U.S. Workers Ignored, Union Says

POSTED: 5:16 pm PDT March 12, 2008
UPDATED: 8:14 pm PDT March 12, 2008


FRESNO, Calif. -- The United Farm Workers of America have filed a complaint with the Department of Labor against the nation's largest lettuce grower.

The union said the grower, Tanimura & Antle, didn't follow federal rules requiring employers to make an effort to hire willing U.S. workers before bringing in legal foreign guest workers.

Organizers with the UFW said the farm didn't even try to recruit a crew of about 15 U.S. workers that it had laid off.


They're asking the Department of Labor to help the workers get the wages they would have earned if they'd been hired for the 2007-2008 season.

They're also asking the government agency to require the grower to pay a penalty for disregarding the law.