Nonetheless, those not inclined to give undocumented workers legal residence have an opportunity to stop this. Citizens and residents interested in taking over an immigrant farm worker’s job are encouraged to apply at www.takeourjobs.org and will be guided by experienced farm workers on how to complete their new job successfully. In addition, the UFW will have monthly updates on the progress of the campaign. The reasonable proposal by the UFW to those harboring anti-immigrant sentiments tests the waters for achieving labor reform as the number of citizens willing to work below the federal minimum wage and for more than twelve hours every day is highly questionable. To bring humor to the expedition, the UFW has partnered up with Stephen Colbert from Comedy Central who featured the “Take Our Jobs” campaign on July 8 in order to educate a broader audience on the role undocumented farm workers play in the U.S.
The “Take Our Jobs” movement truly challenges those who believe immigrants take jobs that would otherwise be occupied by U.S. citizens. Immigrant farm workers are vital to the U.S. food productivity because without them produce would spoil in the fields before reaching supermarkets.
So next time an anti-immigrant supporter picks up a piece of fruit at the grocery store, they should think about the labor put in by an undocumented farm worker to get that fruit into their hands. Reflection could help them judge whether it is truly worth criticizing them and taking their jobs away. Until a sensible decision is reached by policy makers however, human rights organizations like ILRF will keep on pressing for fair and humane treatment for workers despite their legal status in the U.S. The ILRF understands that immigrant farm workers like all other workers have the right to be treated with dignity and achieve the rights they appropriately deserve. To learn more about ILRF’s Sweatshops in the Fields campaign, check out www.laborrights.org/creating-a-sweatfree-world/sweatshops-in-the-fields.
Comments
re: Do you really want to “Take Our Jobs”? A Farmworker Reality
I hope that every American, regardless of where he lives, will stop and examine his conscience about this and other related incidents. This Nation was founded by men of many nations and backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that all men are created equal, and that the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened. All of us ought to have the right to be treated as he would wish to be treated, as one would wish his children to be treated, but this is not the case.
I know the proponents of this law say that the majority approves of this law, but the majority is not always right. Would women or non-whites have the vote if we listen to the majority of the day, would the non-whites have equal rights (and equal access to churches, housing, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, schools, colleges and yes water fountains) if we listen to the majority of the day? We all know the answer, a resounding, NO!
As for the undocumented workers, as was attributed to Ronald Reagan “It’s the Economy, Stupid”. When the economy is good you say let’s all celebrate “Cinco de Mayo, my brothers” but when the economy is down “it’s all your fault, you damn immigrant”. This too will pass, the real problem is the narcos, arms and people smugglers and that’s what the focus should be on.
Today we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free. In a time of domestic crisis men of good will and generosity should be able to unite regardless of party or politics and do what is right, not what is just popular with the majority. Some men comprehend discrimination by never have experiencing it in their lives, but the majority will only understand after it happens to them.