Not the right question

I was at a conference about social justice and immigration reform-- the Unitarian Universalists have been focused on this "Immigration as a moral issue" for the past couple of years. This day-long conference had some great speakers and I filled page after page in my notebook with all I learned that day. I raised my hand just once to ask about the assertion that immigrant labor is critical to industries like agriculture because "no American worker would want those jobs." Since, in addition to being a minister I work part time as office manager of an organic farm, I thought of all those job inquiries clogging the farm e-mail. When we post an opening (and even when we don't) we get a steady stream of qualified applicants, most of whom are American citizens. I asked the panel "if the agricultural jobs are so miserable that citizens won't apply for them,  maybe there is something wrong with the job?" and offered our farm as an alternative example. This was the wrong question apparently- there was an awkward silence and a quick change of subject.

Now I happen to be probably as far to the left as one can get on issues of immigration reform, but I feel there is a deeper issue that needs to be part of the conversation. For centuries American industry has recruit immigrants to fill jobs that are crappy. Not because American citizens are so lazy they won't do a day of hard work, but because it's much harder to exploit workers who know their rights and are rooted in local community. Perhaps American citizens would be more willing to apply for jobs in industrial agriculture if:

1. It were not one of the leading industries for sexual assault! According to the Huffington Post, "In the Central Valley, a 2010 survey of 150 women farmworkers by a researcher from the University of California at Santa Cruz found that 80% had experienced some form of sexual harassment". Wow.
2. If agricultural workers were not exempt from many of the same protections provided to every other worker in America-- like collective bargaining, overtime pay, and a day of rest each week.
3. If agricultural work was not one of the most hazardous- causing more deaths than construction and mining. And remember, these are mostly jobs with no health care or disability insurance.
4. If wage theft was not so common.
5. If you could get a drink of water when you were thirsty; it seems that A North Carolina survey found "only 4% of farmworkers surveyed had access to drinking water, hand washing facilities, and toilets."
6. If you could enjoy the fruits of your labor.  At the farm where I work they grow just about every fruit and vegetable that can be grown in our area, and all the farmworkers (and office staff) are offered "food from themselves and their families." People VOLUNTEER at our farm just to get a taste of strawberries or snow peas fresh picked and organic. (I think this is not so enticing if the farm where you work grows only corn or soy.)
7. If  there was a chance for learning, advancement and growth. Because truth be told many folks who come work at our farm hope one day to have a farm of their own- or this is what they say in their cover letters anyway. Some folks work at the farm for a season and learn definitively that farming is not for them. Others come back season after season and are given opportunities for advancement. Some people just love to have their hands in the soil.
8. If farm workers were treated with fairness, respect and dignity. That's what it all comes down to really. I suspect part of the reason our in-box is filled with hopeful resumes is because workers at our farm are treated with fairness and respect.

For centuries our country has recruited immigrants to work in industries that do not meet basic human rights. Remember the railroad? Remember the garment factories at the turn of the 20th century? (Oh heck, remember the sweat shops staffed by immigrants all over the country right now? But that's a story for another day). When immigrant workers live in constant fear of deportation, of being ripped away from their home and family they are less likely to report sexual assault or wage theft or safety violations. As soon as an immigrant group has enough roots and standing in the community to demand humane working conditions, American business turns to a new part of the world to find immigrants who won't be so picky about basic human rights.

There are a lot of important questions we need to ask about immigration policy right now. But let's not forget to ask- if there are jobs that American Citizens won't do, is there something wrong with those jobs? Because safety, fair pay and dignity are the rights of all persons, regardless of their citizenship status.