Despite economy, Americans don't want farm work

[Crabtownboy]

What should growers do if Americans won't work?

VISALIA, Calif. – As the economy tanked during the past two years, a debate has raged over whether immigrants are taking jobs that Americans want. Here, amid the sweltering vineyards of the largest farm state, the answer is no.

Most Americans simply don't apply for jobs harvesting fruits and vegetables in California, where one of every eight people is out of work, according to government data for a federal seasonal farmworker program analyzed by The Associated Press.

And the few unemployed Americans who apply through official channels usually don't stay on in the fields, a point comedian Stephen Colbert — dressed as a field hand — has alluded to in recent broadcasts on Comedy Central.

"It's just not something that most Americans are going to pack up their bags and move here to do," said farmer Steve Fortin, who pays $10.25 an hour to foreign workers to trim strawberry plants for six weeks each summer at his nursery near the Nevada border. He has spent $3,000 this year ensuring domestic workers have first dibs on his jobs in the sparsely populated stretch of the state, advertising in newspapers and on an electronic job registry.

But he hasn't had any takers, and only one farmer in the state hired anyone using a little-known, little-used program to hire foreign farmworkers the legal way — by applying for guest worker visas.

Since January, California farmers have posted ads for 1,160 farmworker positions open to U.S. citizens and legal residents seeking work.

Only 233 people applied after being linked with the jobs through unemployment offices in California, Texas, Nevada and Arizona. One grower brought on 36 U.S citizens or legal permanent residents. No one else hired any.

 

[targus]

What should growers do if Americans won't work?

The state unemployment burea should be referring unemployed qualified workers to these farmers.

Accepting even temporary work that is less technical than what one normally does should be a requirement of receiving unemployment benefits.

 

[Jon-Marc]

Too many seem to have the attitude of "Why should I work when the government will support me?" There is also the attitude of "Why should I work when I can steal it?"

 

[billwald]

Who on this list wants their children doing field work? Especially considering the exposure to chemicals.

 

[targus]

Who on this list wants their children doing field work? Especially considering the exposure to chemicals.

I didn't know that we were talking about child labor here.

Oh wait... we're not.

BTW - it sounds as thought billwald is in favor of poisoning Mexican children in the farm fields since he is the one who brought up child labor and also doesn't think that Americans should stoop to this labor.

 

[billwald]

YOUR adult children don't work for a living?

 

[rbell]

Give me hard work over handout any day.

 

[abcgrad94]

What should growers do if Americans won't work?

Lazy people aren't going to work as long as the government is giving them handouts. Why sweat in the fields when our tax dollars are paying them to sit at home? Why sweat in the fields for $10 an hour when you can earn more on unemployment?

 

[targus]

YOUR adult children don't work for a living?

My sons and daughters work - but once they became adults they ceased to be children.

Sorry to spoil your fun, Troll.

 

[targus]

YOUR adult children don't work for a living?

Thought about this some more - I would prefer that my grown children work at any honest labor than not work.

I myself would rather work at any honest labor than not work.

In the course of my work life I have - cleaned toilets at a shopping mall - washed dishes in a restaurant - deliverd newspapers to vending machines and gas stations - picked strawberries by hand - weeded greenbeans by hand - mucked horse stalls - washed loads of clothing at the laundrymat...

I started out on a farm - one of twelve kids - and then moved to the Detroit inner city for highschool.

And because I was willing to do those things during highshcool, during college and then as second jobs after starting my career I now live quite comfortably.

 

[Salty]

Then again on the other hand -

Suppose I had a job making $1,000 a week - was laid off. So now I get unemployment for $600 a week. Ok, I take the job of picking apples for$400 a week. First, I am making much less money, and second I am unable to make job interviews to return to a job of my previous income level - which is partly what unemployment is for.

Solution - allow some one to collect unemployment while having a part time job - even if it is a slight reduction in benefits.

Salty

PS - I just took some figures out of the sky for comparisons - remember different States or Commonwealths have different standards for amounts given in unemployment.

 

[targus]

Solution - allow some one to collect unemployment while having a part time job - even if it is a slight reduction in benefits.
.

In Michigan unemployment benefits are reduced if one accepts part time or low pay work - by an amount less than what one earns do so.

By working part time or at a low paying job one can supplement one's unemployment benefits - and be productive at the same time.

 

[Salty]

In Michigan unemployment benefits are reduced if one accepts part time or low pay work - by an amount less than what one earns do so.

By working part time or at a low paying job one can supplement one's unemployment benefits - and be productive at the same time.

Fantastic !- In New York - at least when I applied for unemployment, because I still had a part time job working 6 hours a week on Sat, I was not eligible for any unemployment after loosing my full time (40 hour/week) job due to company down sizing.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Fantastic !- In New York - at least when I applied for unemployment, because I still had a part time job working 6 hours a week on Sat, I was not eligible for any unemployment after loosing[sic] my full time (40 hour/week) job due to company down sizing.

In Florida, it's the same. You'd have to lose both of your jobs.

 

[Salty]

In Florida, it's the same. You'd have to lose both of your jobs.

You have to be careful, if you quit your job - no unemploment. - so you have to quit your part time before you get laid off.

 

[SolaSaint]

I know; The Government needs to step in and stimulate the famer with a few thousand dollars to raise his hourly wages for his workers to attrac t American workers. Doesn't that sound like something Obama would approve of?

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Another thing is how they calculate the base period. After I got laid off by the Census Bureau, I couldn't get unemployment because they use the first four of the last five completed quarters. I worked for the Bureau from 4/27-8/22, so I wouldn't be able to use my earnings from that to qualify until the beginning of next year. I saved up money, however, so I'm okay for now. I just hope I find another job before I run out.

 

[Salty]

Another thing is how they calculate the base period. ....

The last I knew in NY, you only had to wait one week to beging receiving benefits.

Some info in State/Commonwealth benefits

 

[targus]

Another thing is how they calculate the base period. After I got laid off by the Census Bureau, I couldn't get unemployment because they use the first four of the last five completed quarters. I worked for the Bureau from 4/27-8/22, so I wouldn't be able to use my earnings from that to qualify until the beginning of next year. I saved up money, however, so I'm okay for now. I just hope I find another job before I run out.

Why should someone expect to receive unemployment benefits when a temporary job ends?

You knew that it was temporary to start with.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Why should someone expect to receive unemployment benefits when a temporary job ends?

You knew that it was temporary to start with.

Because I paid into the system and lost my job through no fault of my own. Except for the base period calculation issue, I meet all requirements of Florida law to receive unemployment. Your state might do it differently.