Indentured Servants, Circa 2009

Consortium News by Barbara Koeppel | Mar. 18, 2009 (Investigative Report)
The immigration imbroglio is the gorilla in the room that won’t go away.

n the 1980s, the U.S. launched two new plans — an H2A guest program for farm workers and H2B scheme for all other low-wage industries, such as poultry and seafood processing, construction, forestry, timber, restaurants and hotels.

Since then, employers have secured millions of guest workers: In 2008, the U.S. issued 124,000 temporary visas. The real number is far greater, because returning workers’ visas aren’t counted in the figure. Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu

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Subjects: World, U.S., Business
Topics: Global Economy, Immigration
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Posted by: Posted by Dwight Rousu - Mar 18, 2009 - 8:50 PM PDT
Reviewed by: Dwight Rousu (review), Kevin Barry (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Dwight Rousu - Mar 18, 2009 - 9:02 PM PDT
Related Comments: Immigration (7) | Global Economy (2)

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Dwight Rousu
4.2
 by Dwight Rousu - Mar. 19, 2009

Koeppel has gathered and presents a daunting collection of stories of abuse of immigrant workers by employers and uncaring officials.

We must restore human respect and dignity for people, no matter how immigration laws change.

In reality, the rules are a sham. According to Mary Bauer, SPLC’s director of its Immigrant Justice Project, guest workers are cheated every day in every way. More »

Dwight posted this story.
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Kevin Barry
4.3
 by Kevin Barry - Mar. 19, 2009

A compelling article that details the poor conditions that foreign workers face working the US through the visa program. It backs its claims with plenty of facts, and effectively makes a case that the program is rife with abuse. Definitely a recommended read.

I'd point to articles like this when I hear others say that unionization is outdated or harmful to business. It's one of the few ways workers can protect themselves against predatory corporate interests.

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