It can be tricky to balance the needs of many different people at the same time. That applies to the government, too. It appears the US Department of Labor has gotten itself in a bit of a legal gray area, and some Washington State folks are calling “shenanigans.” What’s the deal, and why does it matter?
Here are Five Fast Facts on WA farmers suing the DOL:
- 🤔 The Suit - The lawsuit was filed by a group of Washington state farm workers. They claim the DOL allows employers to favor cheaper foreign workers over local citizens. The government playing favorites? Nah, that never happens.
- ⚖️ Let Justice Prevail (Or Not) - The DOL used to have a “prevailing wage” that set an average standard wage for ag workers using a survey. In 2022 they got rid of that system, meaning local workers got stuck with different rates than foreign workers.
- 🦸 Who And What - The suit was brought by a workers union in Skagit County called Familias Unidas por la Justicia. They’re seeking to reinstitute the prevailing wage rule to protect their workers.
- 💰 The Benjamins - The temporary foreign worker wage is currently $19.25 per hour, which is about $3 above the minimum wage itself. But, seasonal workers can often make as much as $28 per hour. Which is great, if there is a job!
- 😭 The End Result - With the lack of a prevailing wage, foreign workers become much cheaper during the busy season, which means local workers miss out on jobs they would otherwise be happy to do. #sadpanda
🔥Bottom line: It’s one thing to let capitalism drive wages up to meet demand. It’s entirely another when artificial limitations are in place that tip the scale toward one group over another. For the sake of our farm workers, let’s hope this situation gets resolved fairly and quickly!
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