One Ohio Town’s Immigration Clash, Down in the Actual Muck
NYT has an interesting article that might provide readers with the details of not only immigration but labor, food supply, agriculture in a mixed reaction to such issues. I also wonder if planting went smoothly, for instance, as the details of lives get lost in the simplicities of bumper sticker, all or none politics. This is of course only one small sector of of an economy affected by immigration but sometimes a story offers much insight if I ask the right questions as it develops and figure out what this city boy doesn’t know. How could this community come to terms with its problems and strengths?
For decades, the farmers have relied on migrant labor from spring to fall. Depending on how quickly they work, field workers can earn up to $18 an hour, compared with Ohio’s $8.15 minimum hourly wage. Many return year after year to do the strenuous seasonal work, sometimes in temperatures that soar to 100 degrees. (Local residents largely steer clear.)
Seven in 10 field workers nationwide are undocumented, according to estimates by the American Farm Bureau Federation. In Willard, it is probably no different.
“Without the Hispanic labor force, we wouldn’t be able to grow crops,” said Ben Wiers, a great-grandson of the pioneer Henry Wiers, who bought five acres here in 1896, noting that he considers many workers at Wiers Farms, which cultivates more than 1,000 acres of produce under the Dutch Maid label, to be friends.
But beefed-up border enforcement has slowed the flow of workers who enter the country illegally. Last year, a shortage forced Mr. Wiers and the other growers to leave millions of dollars’ worth of produce in the fields.
Many cross and pick crops, which doesn’t seem to be at serious odds with the American workforce. But they go on to be roofers or drywallers or other occupations where their presence does pressure natives. In some ways it is hard to get upset over this because these people tend to work very hard at whatever the are asked to do. But just as a reference, working really hard for about the same wage is just another way of undercutting native labor. Are employers willing to pay $6/hour more to Americans if they work as hard as illegals? Almost never is my observation and I sit within 2 miles of American manufacturers that have routinely been using illegal immigrants for close to 20 years. In fact they would be less inclined to use Americans even if the productivity and wages were identical because the workers’ comp is always much less if you rely on workers who just will never, ever file.
Hearing from a buddy of mine of a large increase of illegal Chinese laborers since Trump came in.
Guys, you have to understand how money motivates this, especially with the Trump group. Chinese workers are large parts of the ‘illegal’ service sector trade. It has been increasing for years, but has exploded over the last 10 years while the Hispanics trade has been in outflow.
That is the con. Why they go for ‘low hanging fruit” with this type of agricultural work, the will make sure well Trump is well profited from illegal immigration in the service sector.
The Ford/little cars plant that was going to be built in China is another one of his schemes instead of Mexico.
Big $$$$$$$$$ connections over there. Trumps anti-hispanic shit is real in that they would not let him get away with his crap in the past so he tries to spite them at all cost.
The media was stupid not following the money on this guy last year. It all goes back to the de Rothschild ownership of the russian central bank and money laundering Russian mob, which connects also into China.
Is this the only email addy, you will use?
Eric377,
Do you live in a “right-to-work” state?
Bub but but, just think how all those wannabe illegal farm works have managed to avoid getting exploited by this? One has to be grateful for such outcomes. They have clearly been done a very large favor.
Of course, one could quote Joan Robinson on this to the effect that, “The only thing worse than being exploited is not being exploited.”
“field workers can earn up to $18 an hour”
“Local residents largely steer clear.”
Because obviously the farmer are not offering a high enough wage. That’s basic supply and demand.
Has anybody asked President Trump for the answer to this? He has a very smart brain!
If America were honest about wanting to stop undocumented labor, it would:
1. Criminalize employment of undocumented workers. Send those who profit from undocumented labor to jail.
2. Criminalize trade in the products of undocumented labor. If you buy anything–produce, services–that involved the use of undocumented labor, you pay a fine
Na ga happen.
This screams for a “Guest Worker’ type of visa. Get the visa, come work for predescribed times, then go home. No citizenship, no vote, no welfare. Crime? 1 strike and you’re out.
You don’t like them terms, well stay in your own country.
Bracero program was exploitive of immigrant workers. 10% deductions which was supposed to be given back to workers after the season finished and they returned to Mexico was not returned. The US is good at exploiting people and Labor.
Sammy… we already have that in the system.
By golly Longtooth you are right! Even better! Let’s just start enforcing the existing laws.