Wage Hike for H-2A workers Pt 2

With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The minimum wage for field and livestock workers on the H-2A Visa program are expected to get a hefty raise in 2017.

 

WAFLA Director Dan Fazio says the impact is felt every time the wages go up …

 

DAN FAZIO … “Every economist that has studied this issue has concluded that there are winners and losers. The winners are the people who get the raises and the losers are the people that lose their jobs. And so, that’s kind of what happens when you have these large increases in wages.”

 

Fazio believes that resources are being stretched dangerously thin…

 

DAN FAZIO … “I’m really concerned that when you look at $13.38 plus all the other benefits, that these wages are above the tipping point. Growers in the Pacific Northwest are competing in a global economy and the high wages, coupled with a strong dollar, are going to make it very hard to produce in a competitive market. The question we’re asking ourselves is, how much more are consumers going to be willing to pay for fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in Washington and Oregon.”

 

Fazio says the questions for the producers are even more daunting …

 

DAN FAZIO … “The farmers I’ve talked to are very concerned that the labor costs are going to price us out of world markets.”

 

But, Fazio says, we haven’t even mentioned the mandatory sick-time approved by voters …

 

DAN FAZIO … “The sick time doesn’t go into effect until 2018, but it’s another, ya know it’s a, it could be the straw that broke the camel’s back maybe, who knows.”

 

Washington growers hired over 13,000 H-2A workers in 2016.