Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Grower's Association

News & Issues

 

Category: Labor

GFVGA Statement on New H2A Regulations:

February 24, 2010 – 12:04 pm |  Filed Under: 
Revisions to H-2A (Temporary Agricultural Worker Visa Program) Rule Places Heavy Burden on Georgia Growers The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association is opposed to the US Department of Labor’s recent revisions to the H2A program which could drastically reduce Georgia’s production of fruits and vegetables.  The new regulations will significantly increase Georgia’s fruit and vegetable producer’s labor costs by more than 25%.  This includes at least a $1.86/hour wage rate increase, decreased flexibility in managing or assigning workers’ duties, creating additional burdensome paperwork and will add substantially to users’ risk of fines, enforcement actions and litigation.  Although the Department
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GFVGA Comments On H2A Proposed Regulations

October 15, 2009 – 11:45 am |  Filed Under: 
Thomas Dowd, Administrator Office of Policy Development and Research Employment and Training Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20210 Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposed revision of the 2008 H2A regulations. Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association commented extensively when the present regulations were proposed and were pleased with the final rule approved in January, 2009. We hope our comments concerning the effects of these proposed revisions on Georgia growers will be given equal consideration. The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association represents more than 400 members
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GFVGA H2A Comments

March 21, 2009 – 11:47 am |  Filed Under: 
March 21, 2009 Mr. Thomas Dowd, Administrator Office of Policy Development & Research Employment and Training Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave., NW Room N-5641 Washington, D.C. 20210 RE: RIN 1205-AB55 Proposed Revision of H2A Regulations For more than a decade Georgia H2A users have been actively involved in an effort to make H2A regulations less complex. These growers are the “good guys,” agricultural employers that are making every effort to do the right thing by operating within the law. As H2A employers these growers use legal labor, provide their workers safe housing, fair pay and good working
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Georgia Congressional Delegation

March 10, 2009 – 11:43 am |  Filed Under: 
March 10, 2009 TO:         All Members of the Georgia Congressional Delegation We understand the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) could be introduced into Congress in the very near future.  On behalf of the fresh produce growers in Georgia and the southeast, our association, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association strongly urges you to oppose this so-called ‘Employee Free Choice Act’ (EFCA). This legislation would strip hard-working Americans of the opportunity to keep private their decision whether or not to be represented by a union. It would effectively replace private ballots in union elections with the very public “card
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