Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
"Annually, the average income of crop workers is between $10,000 to $12,499 for individuals and $15,000 to $17,499 for a family. To give you an idea, the federal poverty line is $10,830 for an individual or $22,050 for a family of four (in 2009).
Thus, according to NAWS, 30% of all farm workers had total family incomes below the poverty line.
Most farm workers are paid based how many buckets or bags they pick of whatever crop they harvest—this is known as the “piece rate.” Payment in this format has some drawbacks.
First of all, if workers are being paid by how much they pick, this acts as a disincentive to take breaks for water or shade, as taking breaks would cut into their productivity and thus cut into their pay.
“No one’s ever lasted through lunch on the first day. They just walk off the job and we don’t hear from them again. It tells us Americans simply don’t want the jobs,” he said.
Some are even raising wages to 22 bucks an hour plus benefits, and they still can't get workers.
So don't believe those that think higher wages is going to have Americans wanting to work in droves picking crop. They don't. When's the last time you heard your friend saying, "hey I'm thinking about picking crop this summer."
The reality is it's backbreaking work, under a hot sun. I wouldn't do it for 40 bucks an hour.
My daughter worked in a poultry plant for several years. Wages were good, but she was the only citizen who would stay. Illegals worked there for years. They hired 43 white Americans with her. Two weeks later, she was the only one left. American young people are too lazy to work.
I tried working bringing in a hay crop when I was a kid. I lasted 10 days slinging around 100+ pound bales of wet hay. This taught me to NEVER EVER consider farming as a way to make money.
I have no idea how these pickers manage to survive. I admire their tenacity.
Meanwhile American youth who could be doing the job are doing nothing and eating themselves to an early grave from type II diabetes.
American youth? Middle aged men who dropped out of the workforce should be called out. The youth still have the opportunities to go to school and get jobs that don't require you standing in a hot field all day.
My daughter worked in a poultry plant for several years. Wages were good, but she was the only citizen who would stay. Illegals worked there for years. They hired 43 white Americans with her. Two weeks later, she was the only one left. American young people are too lazy to work.
Did that for over a year myself in the late 80's. The pay sucked, the work was brutally hard. 10% of the employees were locals. It was literally the hardest job I have ever had. Even the mill was easy afterwards.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
