WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — A federal court recently upheld the latest revised H-2A wage rule, but the Ag Wage Rate Coalition is pushing for Congress to codify the policy into law.
Michelle Grainger with the coalition said doing so would provide greater certainty for agricultural employers, though she acknowledged the current political environment could make that difficult.
“I would love to think that all of our elected officials, regardless of what side the aisle or party they represent, truly feel how important it is for us to be able to feed and clothe ourselves in this country for our national security. Sadly, for all of us at this moment in time, there is a lot of energy around having different opinions and having different perspectives, and that seems to be more of a priority than the priority of national security.”
Despite those challenges, Grainger said the coalition plans to continue advocating for the change.
“I’m not sure, to be exact, as to how we will get this done, but I’m hopeful. You can’t enter into something being a pessimist. You must be an optimist, and I think our growers are eternal optimists, and therefore, because of them and what they do for each of us who like to have clothes on our back and food in our stomachs, we must continue to push forward. We must continue to advocate and be voices that can be heard.”
Under the revised rule, some H-2A positions can use federal Department of Labor wage calculations instead of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.
