After a harvest season full of mobilization and action, El Futuro Es Nuestro / It’s Our Future (IOF) is now dealing with workers in a crisis, and funds are needed to support them.
IOF is assisting 18 workers who have reported lack of access to drinking water, breaks, or medical attention while working for employers who are under investigation for labor violations. These workers are among those who have bravely stood up and offered support to investigations by the Department of Labor, as reported in our October newsletter. (Sign up for our monthly updates, if you aren't already on the list.)
Thankfully, there is now a new potential protection for them. A Biden-era U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) program offers “Deferred Action” to protect workers who cooperate with certain investigations. For qualified workers, Deferred Action provides temporary work permits and protection to stay in the U.S. during labor investigations.
Without the protection of Deferred Action, workers might be reluctant to speak out in any investigation of their employer, knowing that their job, housing, and visa are all at risk. This is exactly the situation of the IOF-supported 18 workers, and eight more workers are contemplating joining.
Applying for Deferred Action is a long, complicated, and expensive process, especially for workers who are at or near the end of their H-2A official visa-provided employment period. In addition to the application costs, workers will need to support themselves while they await the Deferred Action decision, and while the investigation plays out.
IOF wants to help the workers, but as a new and shoe-string organization itself, we have extremely limited resources. We are in urgent need of help to cover some expenses to support these workers. |