On Oct. 8, the UFCW urged lawmakers to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from designated countries experiencing crises. This call to action was part of the National TPS Alliance’s Week of Action, a coordinated effort to pressure Congress to act.
“Immigrant workers have been the backbone of our country’s economy and our food system for decades,” said UFCW International President Milton Jones in a statement. “They keep American families fed every day with their hard work at grocery stores, meatpacking plants, and other workplaces across the country.”
“Workers here under Temporary Protected Status not only have followed legal procedures to live and work in the country, but have also stepped in to fill critical labor shortages that have persisted in our food system for decades. Now, they are being stripped of that opportunity and face the threat of persecution, despite their service and compliance with the law.”
“As prices continue to rise and squeeze working families, eliminating legal work authorizations will only drive prices higher and leave employers having to contend with labor shortages yet again. Workers left behind at their jobs will have to do the same amount of work with fewer skilled hands, which will make plants and stores more chaotic and jeopardize worker and food safety.”
“Our leaders in Washington must restore employment authorizations and legal protections for these hard-working individuals, so they can continue sustaining the American food supply chain – ensuring both workforce security and our shared economic stability.”