Expands Opportunities for U.S. Workers; Increases Wages, Ensures Strong Labor Protections, Improves Conditions, and Protects All Workers from Exploitation

Washington, D.C.--Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis reinstated protections for temporary, foreign farm workers (H-2A visa holders) that were slashed from the nation's agricultural guest worker program during the last days of the Bush administration. In response to the amended H-2A regulations, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Eliseo Medina released the following statement:

SEIU applauds Secretary Solis and DOL for acting swiftly to restore fairness and order to our nation's agricultural workforce, who suffered reduced wages and degraded working conditions under changes made during the Bush Administration. As a result of Secretary Solis' leadership, these new rules will help reverse the race to the bottom by employers who game a broken system to profit on the backs of some of our nation's lowest-paid workers."

"In the absence of comprehensive immigration reform, the amended rules play a critical role in lifting wages, improving labor and living conditions, strengthening recruitment of U.S. workers, reducing incentives to hire and exploit immigrant workers, and helping reign in bad-actor contractors and employers. We are particularly encouraged by the provisions designed to prevent employers from using guestworkers as a tool to defeat workers who stand up for their rights to organize; and we are hopeful that DOL will provide the necessary teeth to enforce these critical labor laws effectively.

"While these amended rules could not come soon enough for U.S. and foreign-born workers, it is true that they only scratch the surface of our nation's much deeper immigration problems. The only true way to replace a chaotic, revolving door of cheap, easily-exploited labor with a fair, controlled system that levels the playing field for all workers is to pass comprehensive immigration reform. To that end, SEIU will continue pressuring Congress to lead on this critical issue and pass smart, comprehensive legislation--including AgJOBS--that improve working conditions for all workers."

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