Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina released the following statement concerning proposed changes to the nation's H2A agricultural guest worker program announced by the outgoing Bush Administration:

"At this critical moment we should be focused on rebuilding our economy so that it is stronger and fairer for our children and grandchildren. The Bush Administration's proposed changes to the H2A guest worker program are the wrong policies at the wrong time by making it easier for big business to exploit some of the lowest-paid workers in the country.

"Instead of slashing the pay and benefits of domestic farm workers and further complicating our country's immigration situation, President Bush should work with President-elect Obama to strengthen worker conditions and create a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system that restores the rule of law and combines smart enforcement strategies at the border and in the workplace.

"Until that happens, SEIU's 2 million members add their voices in opposition to the H-2A program changes and we call on Congress and President-elect Obama to reverse these regulatory changes. With the state of our nation's economy, we cannot afford to put our agricultural workforce in jeopardy and undermine U.S. workers."

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