ASSOCIATED PRESS March 24, 2006 Irvin: No reports of work stoppage on farms ATLANTA - Georgia's agricultural commissionr -- Tommy Irvin -- says he has had no reports of immigrant work stoppages on farms throughout the state.
He also notes that few crops are being harvested this time of year.
He says the first major crop will be next month when Vidalion onions are harvested. After that will come peaches and vegetable crops.
Irvin says Congress needs to resolve immigrant worker issues so farmers can count on having a legal, reliable work force. Many Georgia farmers are concerned about a possible worker shortage this year because of the growing concern about illegal immigrants. Farmers also believe that many migrant workers have gone to the Gulf of Mexico for higher-paying jobs clearing the wreckage of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Shelton Singletary of Gainous Agricultural Services, a farm labor contractor in Cairo, said he was unaware of any work stoppages, and Tina Sanchez, a Hispanic advocate in Moultrie, said she didn't think many of the immigrant workers in rural Georgia were taking part in the stoppage.
``I don't think people found out about it,'' she said. ``It's more about communications television, radio, newspapers. We just don't have that communication in south Georgia.''
There's no word, so far, on the impact on poultry plants in the Gainesville area. A representative of one said they were not talking about the situation.
As for retail outlets in Gainesville, the parking lot at the Gainesvile Wal-Mart was full at noon Friday. That store is a favorite of Latinos in the area.
It was a different scenario in one part of metro Atlanta, though.
Jose Castro said there was something different about Buford Highway, well known for its many Hispanic and other ethnic businesses on the north side of Atlanta, as he stood at the bus stop Friday.
Missing was the familiar hustle and bustle that the Mexican immigrant is used to seeing.
``Everybody's no work. No many working. Everybody no go shopping,'' Castro, 26, said in halting English. ``Everything is low.''
Immigrant communities encouraged a work stoppage to protest a bill passed by the Georgia House Thursday that allows sweeping changes to the state's policies on immigrants.
The bill, which must get Senate approval before going to Gov. Sonny Perdue, would deny state services to adults living in the U.S. illegally and impose a 5 percent surcharge on wire transfers from illegals.
Supporters say the plan is a vital homeland security measure that frees up limited state services for Georgia residents who are legally entitled to them. Opponents say it unfairly targets workers who are merely responding to the demands of some of the state's largest industries.
At the Latin American Association in Atlanta, spokesman Josh Hopkins said his office has been inundated with calls from Hispanic residents confused by the bill. The center will host a forum Sunday with legal experts who can tell the community more about the plan.
``We oppose legislation that marginalizes the population,'' Hopkins said.
The work stoppage was not observed by everyone.
At Plaza Fiesta, Buford Highway's largest mall filled with Hispanic businesses, many of the stores appeared to be open for business Friday.
Back at the bus stop, Castro said he still was planning to go to work at a Mexican restaurant where he is a cook. But he's not sure if he'll end up working, because his boss previously said the restaurant might close because of the work stoppage.
Castro said he doesn't understand how the bill will benefit Georgians, because Hispanics eat a restaurants and buy goods and services.
``I think it's no good for Latins, no good for America,'' he said. ``I come for work. Everybody is coming here for work. Not for problems.'' |