Labor Reform Pt 2
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. Many feel that wage growth and labor costs are at the top of the list when it comes to agriculture’s current problems.
And now, Northwest Horticultural Council Senior Vice President, Kate Tynan says our labor issues aren’t confined to the Pacific Northwest …
TYNAN … “And the one silver lining in that, I think, is we’re getting some louder voices in reform from other parts of the country than we might have had in the past. So, hopefully that will actually be beneficial in the long term in terms of trying to come up with a solution.”
Now, Tynan says we need to put our heads together …
TYNAN … “Historically, all of our groups have been saying that we’ve needed reform, but there’s been a disagreement over what that reform should look like. And I think the labor cost pressures that we’ve seen nationwide, where even these regions that might not have as high of an AEWR have seen such significant increases, is there’s more of a desire just to come up with something that is much better than the status quo without waiting for the perfect.”
Because perfect, Tynan says kind of depends on WHERE you are …
TYNAN … “I would also note that it might just look a little different. You know, we might not get everything we want, but maybe there’ll be some opportunities to get some at least modest improvements through. And, you know, we’re going to be looking at all options and all opportunities that we can take advantage of with the current political environment to see if we can make some progress.”
Tynan says 1986 was the last significant labor reform passed
by Congress, BUT they’ll keep trying.
