Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Unions Demand Justice for Seasonal Workers

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Texas AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Leonard Aguilar (UA, pictured above) joined a press conference earlier today with Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Judy Chu of California to announce the introduction of the Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act. Last year, the number of workers in the H-2B visa system hit a record high of 132,000, and as H-2B visas increase, so does the urgency of reforming the system to better protect all workers.

The Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act will create a new framework for the H-2B temporary guest worker visa program to prevent discrimination and displacement, elevate labor standards, respond to real labor market needs, end captive employment, respect family unity, ensure access to justice, and afford immigrant workers a path to citizenship. Read the statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and watch the press conference here.