Immigrant-rights groups and labor unions are preparing a fight against Burger King in a showdown over agriculture workers' rights, culminating in a march in Miami on Friday.
At issue is the rate paid to tomato pickers in Florida, which supplies most of the nation's tomatoes during the winter.
That means fast-food chains have to rely on the Florida supply. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers — largely Latino, Haitian, and Mayan Indian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida — has already struck deals with McDonald's and Yum Brands' Taco Bell, winning a penny-per-pound rate increase that growers have promised to pass on to the pickers. That penny increase would nearly double the pay for pickers, who make an average of $10,000 to $12,000.
But the coalition says Burger King is resisting a similar deal and will be the subject of a public relations campaign designed to bring pressure.
The Associated Press reported that a growers exchange says by setting a price, the deal violates antitrust laws. The growers exchange has threatened fines against growers who pay the higher rate.
Most of Florida's tomato pickers are immigrants, and many of them are here illegally. Efforts in Congress to legalize illegal alien farm workers stalled earlier this year.
— Stephen Dinan, national political reporter, The Washington Times
Comments (3)
AMNESTY CONSIDERATIONS
It is very economically advantageous to use cheap Mexican seasonal agricultural guest workers; it is very socially and economically disadvantageous to let them stay after the crop is harvested.
When seasonal guest workers do return to Mexico at end of the growing season, they return with money and experience, to contribute to the development of Mexico; and each year, when a new group of seasonal guest workers comes, they are eager to work for the same low non-citizen wages.
And, when they return to Mexico at end of the growing season, they do not drive down the wages of American workers, by competing for jobs in landscaping, construction, sanitation, and housekeeping; and they do not use American governmental social services.
When seasonal guest workers come from all of the countries of Latin America, on a strict quota system, then every country benefits, not Mexico exclusively; and when they are well treated, the experience is mutually positive.
Mexico is land rich in natural resources; what makes it so socially and economically retarded are its Mexican People; and wherever they immigrate they bring their deplorable civilization with them. It is so inferior than none of them want to return to it.
The Mexican dream of regaining political control over Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California is America's worst nightmare. Starting at all of the border towns, and spreading northward throughout America, like cancers, are thousands of deplorable Mexican neighborhoods.
With each deportation America looks, smells, and sounds less like socially and economically deplorable Mexico. America is presently occupied by 12-15 million Mexicans.
With the deportation of all the illegal immigrants, students will again be able to get good paying summer jobs, to learn responsibility and earn their way through college; blue-collar wages will rise; border towns will not be slums; Spanish will not be a second language; crime will go down; hospitals and prisons will not be overcrowded.
When all of the illegal aliens are deported, the Neo-Lib Democrats and Neo-Con Republicans will lose millions of political supporters, and the vast donations that they receive from the Mexican Lobby; and, those American businesses that exploit cheap Mexican labor will lose their illegal competitive advantages.
No advanced civilization in the World can coexist side by side with a retarded civilization, without a great wall or fence, strict guest labor laws, and armed border guards.
Posted by Jeugenen | December 1, 2007 9:45 PM
Jeugenen,
And you wonder why people call you racist. First of all, there is no such thing as Reconquista. People come here to achieve the American Dream not to reclaim the US to Mexico. Only people like you, ANTIs, have come up with this wild tale! Shame on you!
Second, how dare you call the quaint border towns like Eagle Pass and others "deplorable Mexican neighborhoods." Careful, your racist xenophobia is showing. Then you use words like "smells..." just deplorable.
It is racists like you that bring in hate and anger into this discussion.
If you study the History of Immigration in our country, starting with the Immigration Act of 1924, you understand why we are in our current state. Additionally, there are a number of groups started by the ANTI Godfather John Tanton that have caused the discussion to turn so negative, instilling fear and loathing of all people Hispanic. Shame on you!!
We discuss all of this very civilly on my blog. Maybe you should take 10 deep breaths and see if you can speak civilly and stop by.
Your Quote:
"The Mexican dream of regaining political control over Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California is America's worst nightmare. Starting at all of the border towns, and spreading northward throughout America, like cancers, are thousands of deplorable Mexican neighborhoods.
With each deportation America looks, smells, and sounds less like socially and economically deplorable Mexico. America is presently occupied by 12-15 million Mexicans."
Posted by Dee | December 5, 2007 9:54 AM
Well, yes, we could go back to the Spanish-American War as well. A young congressman named A. Lincoln was not sure who actually provoked whom into fighting. Its all there in the Library of Congress. I would argue that we should be a bit sensitive toward Mexico on this issue, but how many millions are we required to take? If we go back to 1924, immigration favored caucasions for a while. However, in recent decades it has favored non-caucasians.
Back in 1986, I wrote to my congressmen supporting the amnesty. My support was based on their promises: (1) no more amnesties, (2) illegal immigration would kept in check, and (3)legal immigration would be kept to low levels. Since that time, our government has pretty much abandoned enforcement. When you don't enforce immigration law, you promote illegal immigration. Our politicians obviously understand this. It seems pretty clear that they fully intended to build up the population of illegals and then force us into an amnesty. That does not fit the definition of treason, but it sure carries the smell of treason.
Those who argue now for amnesty are essentially arguing for open immigration. Our reference point -- 1986 -- tells us clearly that once the amnesty is under way all of the tough provisions that came with a compromise can (and likely will be) abandoned. Then we just move on to the next amnesty.
I still can't find anyone who can tell me how we are going to become an energy-independent nation, reducing far less carbon dioxide, while absorbing millions of immigrants every year. The only plan I have heard is something about huge numbers if nuclear power plants. Good luck.
And in the end, some of my best friends are non-caucasian immigrants. However, that doesn't mean that I have to sit back and do nothing as my country turns into a huge, overpopulated mess.
By the way, the name-calling really isn't needed. I think most Americans are getting pretty tired of those lame attempts at coercion. Maybe those who like to call names should try and find some formal way to take representation away from people who have a different point of view.
We live in a finite world, and there is nothing we can do to change that fact.
Posted by James | December 7, 2007 5:55 PM