YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

April 17, 2006

Editorial

Hasten, but still require, state review of labor appeal

At a time when there's so much fuss surrounding proposed immigration reform and guest-worker programs, it's a good idea to take a close look when labor and agriculture employers say they have voluntarily come up with a structured plan that features a legal work force.

At first glance, such an agreement appears to have been forged by Global Horizons, a Los Angeles-based company that has hired foreign workers for area growers, and the United Farm Workers Union. The two sides have agreed to an unprecedented three-year contract that does indeed bear further scrutiny.

Standing in the way, though, is the fact that Global is not presently licensed to operate in this state. The state Department of Labor & Industries revoked its farm-labor contractor's license in December for failing to correct in a timely manner state labor and insurance law violations. An appeals hearing is set for September. In the meantime, Gov. Chris Gregoire is being pressured to reverse the suspension.

Neither is really a good approach because this particular type of amnesty for Global leaves too many unanswered questions.

We think the proper course of action would be to expedite the September hearing and hold it as soon as possible. The situation that led up to Global losing its license has raised serious issues that must be reviewed before any decision is made on reinstatement. Even if Global is allowed to resume business, the state must demand oversight and accountability to restore credibility to the firm's operations.

But that kind of review must come sooner, not later, since this year's harvest season looms and will run through the October harvest of apples. Obviously, a September hearing comes way late in the season.

The new contract will cover both local U.S. and temporary foreign guest workers that Global Horizons hires for its customers, who are farmers and other types of agricultural employers. The workers will be recruited through the federal H-2A guest worker program.

For the agriculture employer, the contract ensures legal guest workers.

For the union, the pact could mean as many as 3,000 new dues-paying farm workers.

The union has traditionally balked at H-2A programs because of the difficulty of organization. The contract will change that.

We're not advocating wiping the slate clean for Global Horizons. Any underlying questions about the company's operations here in the past must be addressed. But given the new development of this unusual agreement and the cycle of agriculture harvests, we think both sides deserve an expedited appeal by the state.

As soon as possible.