WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Howard L. Berman are expected to introduce UFW’s landmark AgJobs bill negotiated by the union and the nation’s agricultural industry Thursday morning to both, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The bill would allow the millions of undocumented farm workers already living in the country now to "come out of the shadows" and a chance to earn American citizenship.
"Undocumented farm workers possess essential skills needed to maintain the viability of the agricultural industry. By allowing them to work here without molestation, we can ensure growers have a legal and available work force, and prevent unscrupulous employers from abusing the workers. For that to happen, they need to be able to speak up and report abuses, organize and come to the bargaining table without fearing deportation," said UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez.
According to the federal government, more than 50 percent of U.S. farm workers laboring are undocumented. If we were to deport all undocumented farm workers, it would mean the collapse of the agricultural industry as we know it. That’s why the UFW has worked together with the agricultural industry for the last 10 years to craft a bipartisan approach that would ensure a legal work force for U.S. agriculture.
This compromise resulted in the AgJobs bill that would give undocumented farm workers presently here the right to earn legal status by continuing to work in agriculture.
"The United States depends on these farm workers for food. AgJOBS secures America’s food supply and is the most practical and equitable solution in addressing grower concerns about labor shortages and the insecurity that makes farm workers so vulnerable to abuse," Rodriguez added.