Thanksgiving meal highlights farm workers’ plight
East Oregonian
When families sit down around the table for their Thanksgiving meal next week, the United Farm Workers hope they spare a thought for the workers who helped harvest the bounty.
At UFW offices around the country, including the office in Hermiston, farm laborers sat down at a ceremonial Thanksgiving table on Wednesday in anticipation of the announcement President Barack Obama plans to make about immigration reform Thursday night.
“We encourage President Obama to go big on immigration,” said Jorge Valenzuela, regional director for the United Farm Workers.
At the Hermiston offices the table was piled high with onions, potatoes, apples, wine, cheese, bread and meat — all types of foods harvested and produced by the people around the table.
The purpose was to show support for the field workers gathered around a similar meal at the White House on Wednesday. Valenzuela said those workers, including some from Oregon, brought with them letters and personal stories begging the president to take executive action on immigration after years of Congress failing to act.
Details leaked to the media indicate Obama’s plan includes executive orders on immigration enforcement that would give relief to about 5 million illegal immigrants in the United States.
Roberto Ortega, who attended the Hermiston event, said he has worked agriculture in the United States for 27 years. He said many farm workers will not spend Thanksgiving with their own families, who have been deported or denied a visa.
“For a farm worker who is undocumented, the biggest joy they could receive this Thanksgiving is to be able to give thanks (near) their families,” he said.
Valenzuela said people don’t often think about the plight of the workers who pick and process the food on the table before them.
“Meanwhile these workers continue to suffer rampant sexual harassment, wage theft and other abuses, more than documented workers,” he said.
Estimates place the number of farm workers who don’t have legal status in the United States at anywhere from 55 to 90 percent. Valenzuela said after years of Congress stalling on immigration reform, executive action on Obama’s part will help the nation’s economy and agricultural community.
“These are jobs folks don’t want to do,” he said.
He said the United Farm Workers urged Obama to take action that is “as broad as possible” and includes provisions to specifically protect farm workers.
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Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4536.