3 ms·

This is only a problem if there's a surplus of labor. Which there is, because migrant workers come in and work for wages that no local person would accept. If

This is only a problem if there's a surplus of labor. Which there is, because migrant workers come in and work for wages that no local person would accept. If you can literally double your workforce overnight while at the same time paying them all less, that's a policy failure.

poulsbohemian 3y ago
>migrant workers come in and work for wages that no local person would accept I'm sorry but this is more political talking points than reality... depending on jurisdiction, many of these ag positions are exempt from minimum wage, where people are still paid based on production. That is - the wage is kept low by regulation, put in place by the people who benefit from keeping those wages low. You aren't wrong when you say there are migrant workers, but it's important to put that in context. In commercial ag, there are many types of workers who migrate around the country (and yes, also into Mexico) following the seasons. So for example if you are a skilled asparagus picker (yes this is a thing, and not a surprise it is mentioned in the article), you may start the season in Mexico, work through CA, and then continue northward following the season. So it isn't just a matter of "wages no local person would accept" but also a matter of training and skill. As an employer, you want someone who has the training and skills who you can trust year after year. Predictability. You don't get that hiring the local high school kids for the summer. Yes, I know there are places like Iowa where corn detasseling is a right of passage, but that's just not the case for the bulk of west coast commercial agriculture.
- linuxftw 3y ago
  Exactly none of what you said invalidates anything I said. If the migrant workers had a lot of in-demand skills, farms would not be able to double the workforce overnight. If there weren't migrant workers, employers would need to train workers. And in order to not lose investment on that training, they'd need to pay their workers more than the alternatives. But they don't, because the exploit migrant workers. How are they exploiting them? Well, if wages go up domestically, the cost of produce will go up domestically. Which means produce from other locations will fetch a higher margin, which will allow those economies to develop.
- bamfly 3y ago
  > many of these ag positions are exempt from minimum wage Child labor laws, too.

poulsbohemian 3y ago

>migrant workers come in and work for wages that no local person would accept I'm sorry but this is more political talking points than reality... depending on jurisdiction, many of these ag positions are exempt from minimum wage, where people are still paid based on production. That is - the wage is kept low by regulation, put in place by the people who benefit from keeping those wages low. You aren't wrong when you say there are migrant workers, but it's important to put that in context. In commercial ag, there are many types of workers who migrate around the country (and yes, also into Mexico) following the seasons. So for example if you are a skilled asparagus picker (yes this is a thing, and not a surprise it is mentioned in the article), you may start the season in Mexico, work through CA, and then continue northward following the season. So it isn't just a matter of "wages no local person would accept" but also a matter of training and skill. As an employer, you want someone who has the training and skills who you can trust year after year. Predictability. You don't get that hiring the local high school kids for the summer. Yes, I know there are places like Iowa where corn detasseling is a right of passage, but that's just not the case for the bulk of west coast commercial agriculture.

linuxftw 3y ago
Exactly none of what you said invalidates anything I said. If the migrant workers had a lot of in-demand skills, farms would not be able to double the workforce overnight. If there weren't migrant workers, employers would need to train workers. And in order to not lose investment on that training, they'd need to pay their workers more than the alternatives. But they don't, because the exploit migrant workers. How are they exploiting them? Well, if wages go up domestically, the cost of produce will go up domestically. Which means produce from other locations will fetch a higher margin, which will allow those economies to develop.
bamfly 3y ago
> many of these ag positions are exempt from minimum wage Child labor laws, too.