Labor

Farm bill clears U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate passed the 2013 Farm Bill June 10 by a vote of 66-27. The bipartisan proposal cuts $24 billion in spending by eliminating direct payment subsidies, consolidating programs to end duplication and cracking... more »

Immigration reform advances in Senate

The full Senate is expected to take up immigration reform in June after the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a comprehensive immigration reform bill on a 13-5 vote. The proposed new agriculture worker program survived the... more »

Fruit farmers fight to rebound from last year

Like so many Michigan fruit growers this week, Rodney Winkel is sweating it. He’s up before the sun, checking his apple blossoms, organizing migrant workers to pick his asparagus — and feeling the weight of... more »

Workers claim racial bias in farms’ hiring of immigrants

For years, labor unions and immigrant rights activists have accused large-scale farmers, like those harvesting sweet Vidalia onions here this month, of exploiting Mexican guest workers. Working for hours on end under a punishing sun,... more »

Ag community voices support for immigration proposal

A recent agreement between agriculture, labor and Congressional interests is being hailed as a key step in achieving comprehensive immigration reform – reform that includes long-sought provisions essential to growers.The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and... more »

Senators reach deal on farm workers

Senators writing a landmark immigration bill broke a logjam between farmworker unions and growers Thursday, reaching a tentative agreement on future agricultural visas and pay scales for foreign farmworkers, according to people familiar with the... more »

Immigration bill may blow up over ag workers

The Senate's "gang of eight"could roll out a long awaited comprehensive immigration plan next week, but a key provision over what to do about the country's immigrant agricultural workers is stuck in limbo and could... more »

Labor and business reach deal on immigration issue

The nation’s top business and labor groups have reached an agreement on a guest worker program for low-skilled immigrants, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said on Saturday. The deal clears the path for... more »