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Politics

: The Gavel

Education and Labor Hearing on American Workers and Hiring from Abroad

By Jesse Lee

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In light of four consecutive months of job losses the Education and Labor Committee held a hearing this morning, “Do Federal Programs Ensure U.S. Workers Are Recruited First Before Employers Hire From Abroad?” Employers who want to hire guest workers under the H-2A and H-2B programs must first certify that qualified U.S. workers are not available. Employers must demonstrate that they made efforts to recruit U.S. workers for these positions and the employment of guest workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. While some employers are properly recruiting U.S. workers before turning elsewhere, witnesses will discuss whether current and proposed regulations and current enforcement efforts ensure adequate recruitment of U.S. workers in the context of both guest workers and undocumented workers.

Chairman George Miller gave opening remarks:

Chairman Miller: “While many honest employers utilize guest worker programs to fill labor needs, this hearing will address a curious situation: at the same time that unemployment is rising, many businesses claim they cannot find U.S. workers. The issue is particularly important in the face of the weakening economy. Today, approximately 7.6 million workers are unemployed, and this figure does not include millions of others who are too discouraged to look for work. And it does not include the 5.2 million who are forced into part-time work because of cutbacks in hours or because they are unable to find full-time jobs.”

Bill Beardall, director of the Equal Justice Center and the Transnational Worker Rights Clinic at the University of Texas School of Law, gave testimony. He played a recording a voice message left by an employer for a worker named Gabriel. As Beardall explains, the employer had failed to pay Gabriel for his labor on a home construction job. Gabriel, had merely returned to the worksite looking for the employer, hoping to get paid the money he was owed:

Recording: ?Gabriel, its ________ . I just got a call from the homeowners of the house that y?all did work at and they said that y?all went ? that you went by looking for money. Gabriel, if you ever f___ing do that again, I will turn your f___ing brown ass into INS and I will personally escort you to the g__d___ border. F___ with me anymore, and I?m gonna ruin you, Gabriel. Don?t f___ with me anymore. You go back to that house, and I swear to God I will take this to the next level and I will turn you in to the Sheriff?s department. Good luck on any ? on getting ? on getting any more money.?

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 06, 2008 (boomark / email).