North Carolina businesses feel the pain of cuts to seasonal worker visas

[TexasTowelie]

International workers are the backbone of the Seaside Farm Market in the remote northern Outer Banks town of Corolla. Only 500 people live there, but up to 50,000 visit every week in the summer.

But for the first time in 23 years, the family-owned produce and seafood market didn’t open this summer. Owners Bill and Julie Grandy weren’t able to get the H-2B visas they needed to bring in the workers from Mexico they’ve employed for years.

They didn’t get a single local applicant for jobs advertised at $15 per hour, Bill Grandy said, calling Corolla a “black hole” for local labor. The husband and wife have both had to take other jobs.

“It’s devastated us,” he said. “We have a half a million dollar investment just sitting there generating no money. I don’t know how to describe it other than (total) disaster.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article159412859.html

[Historic NY]

1. Just watch the prices rise in the markets.....

no takers at 15.00 tell me Americans won't do the hard work. They have advertised up here for workers in the black dirt region too, potatoes, onions, celery, etc.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Making America Great Again! The winning streak continues

History teaches things get pretty rough for incumbents when the food riots begin

Wonder if it could really happen? No produce, or a reduced supply at 4 times the price now?

[Butterflylady]

3. Gee

I wonder who they voted for in the last presidential election?

[nikibatts]

4. Bet all 500 residents voted for Trump.

[Perseus]

6. Exactly

They continue to vote republican then get hit on the head, never learn.

[Perseus]

5. "I dont know how to describe it"

I can describe it NC...

Continue voting republican crazies to power, and that is what you get, as simple as that.

[IronLionZion]

7. Trump is such a job creator

I wonder if his voters are tired of winning yet?

[bottomofthehill]

8. I don't know why they can't find help....

Last edited Wed Jul 5, 2017, 03:02 PM - Edit history (1)

15 dollars an hour in a place where houses awe 1000 dollars a week. There is not a lot of inexpensive housing around Corolla so the easiest thing to do is bring in internationals to exploit.

[judesedit]

9. Only 6 months in. Sad sad sad

[bmichaelh]

10. Georgia had this problem before

Some people never learn:

https://thinkprogress.org/georgia-again-tries-to-replace-immigrant-farm-workers-with-inmates-d7bd134f9be6

[mountain grammy]

11. Is America great yet?

[riversedge]

12. Visa shortage makes it hard for @GovWalker #Wisconsin businesses to fill jobs

The end of July to Too LATE!!



Visa shortage makes it hard for Wisconsin businesses to fill jobs[/

http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2017/07/02/visa-shortage-makes-hard-wisconsin-businesses-fill-jobs/404684001/

Michelle Liu , Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 4:43 p.m. CT July 2, 2017 | Updated 5:29 p.m. CT July 2, 2017



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That's because those documents, known as H-2Bs, are limited to 66,000 per year across the country. The program allows seasonal employees working outside agriculture — mostly in fields such as housekeeping, landscaping and amusement parks — to stay in the country for a year.

In past years, returning workers such as those employed by Massie didn't count against the cap. But last year, Congress didn't reauthorize that exemption.

Alpine isn't alone. Many small businesses in communities that rely on seasonal tourism are also affected...................................

Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security said it would offer extra visas. Congress had authorized the agency to increase the number available for the 2017 fiscal year as part of the spending bill it passed in May.
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A department spokesperson told The Associated Press that the agency expects to start issuing the visas as soon as late July. The visas will be available to employers that demonstrate they will be significantly harmed if they cannot hire the temporary foreign workers, the AP reported...........................