Field work wanes, forcing migrant workers out earlier

By ROEL GARCIA

The Holland Sentinel

Holland, MI — The withering economy is choking growth in a surprising sector — local migrant workers are feeling the pinch as field work wanes.

Telamon Corporation, a local organization meeting the needs of migrant and seasonal farmworkers experiencing housing, employment and health issues, has had Zelenka employees come in asking for help. Zelenka is a grower of ornamental landscape greenery, a sector impacted by new home starts and sales.

“We had a couple, both working at Zelenka, come in this week and the wife was just laid off and the husband’s hours were reduced,” said Rebecca Diffin at Telamon. “She was concerned because she had a son who recently graduated from high school who wants to stay and continue his college education here.” Some Ottawa County migrants might run into housing and schooling issues if contracts at Zelenka nurseries finish early this year.

During the growing season, migrant workers rent migrant camp housing for a minimal amount — typically $25 a week. When a grower closes early, families are often displaced unexpectedly, with little time to find temporary housing until the next growing season begins — it’s a tough spot to be in: no job, no housing and kids struggling to finish a school semester. Diffin, who says the majority of the migrant farm workers come from Texas, suspects the soft economy is to blame.

Zelenka officials would not comment on contract work ending early this year. However West Ottawa Public Schools officials are holding a meeting for parents of migrant students on Tuesday, Oct. 21 to discuss some options for migrant families if housing becomes an issue.

“We hope to answer questions by Tuesday,” said Rosa Becerra-Silva, West Ottawa schools migrant recruiter, who was alerted by Zelenka this week about earlier migrant camp closings due to layoffs.

Currently migrants stay at the camps while they’re working the fields. However, if work ends earlier than normal, and the camps close before the semester ends, this could have potential impact on children’s education, since families usually stay until mid-November.

“Parents want to know, ‘Are we going to be able to stay, what’s going to happen to our children, what about credits?’” Becerra-Silva said.

The meeting takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the West Ottawa High School north building cafeteria, 3685 Butternut Drive.

Jose Soto and his family live in a two-bedroom apartment at the Quincy Street camp. Five adults and three children share the apartment.

Soto has worked for Zelenka for more than 20 years. The 61-year-old and his extended family will stay in the area this year.

However, they will be impacted if they have to move out of the camp earlier.

“We have to find a house or apartment. It’s hard because more people want six months lease. No one wants three months for a lease,” said Soto in Spanish.

The family also runs into trouble with finding housing for the extended family. Renters usually only want a couple to stay in a an apartment.

“We started looking for a place last week,” he said.

Soto pays about $25 per week for the migrant camp apartment, which is taken out of his paycheck. He works about 10 hours a day when there’s plenty of work and earns $7 an hour.

“We get paid if we work. We get full of mud or we work in the snow sometimes,” he said.

Soto and his wife, Martha, waited at home for their son on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to continue their search for a rental.