On July 19, UFCW International President Marc Perrone issued a statement in opposition to the AG and Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 6417), which creates a new H-2C visa program that will expand the definition of an agricultural guestworker to include meat, poultry, shellfish and other food processing jobs.
Perrone’s statement reads as follows:
“The so-called AG and Legal Workforce Act will destroy American jobs and put the safety of our food supply at significant risk.
“The hard-working people who work in the meat and food processing sectors are highly trained professionals who serve as an extra layer of protection for consumers when it comes to food safety.
“These are vital roles that protect all American families regardless of where they live.
“Allowing untrained visa holders to take on these jobs with zero experience will cut wages and increase the odds of consumers eating contaminated meat.
“This is a bill that both Republicans and Democrats should strongly oppose.”