Farm Workers and Colbert Team Up: Want a Migrant Worker's Job? Come and Get It

June 25, 2010

stephen_colbert_farm_workers
Stephen Colbert has his eye on you. (Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Calling all Americans! Do you think undocumented migrant workers are taking your jobs? Stephen Colbert and the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) are teaming up to tell people, 'If you want an immigrant farm worker's job, come on over and get it.'

To make their point, they've even created a website called Take Our Jobs where you can sign up to be a farm worker. Once signed up, a farm worker will train applicants and connect them to a working farm, where it will be time to put up or shut up.

For the United Farm Workers of America, the country's largest farm workers' union, what's missing in the debate over whether undocumented immigrants are taking work that should go to Americans is the recognition that most of the food we eat comes from the labor of undocumented workers. Overall, three-quarters of crop workers in the country are not from the U.S.

Low wages, long hours and harsh working conditions are a reality for these migrant workers. Not to mention the effects of breathing in pesticides and other chemicals for around 12 hours a day.

If you do sign up to be a farmworker, the disclaimer on the UFW site states:

Job may include using hand tools such as knives, hoes, shovels, etc. Duties may include tilling the soil, transplanting, weeding, thinning, picking, cutting, sorting & packing of harvested produce. May set up & operate irrigation equip. Work is performed outside in all weather conditions (summertime 90+ degree weather) & is physically demanding requiring workers to bend, stoop, lift & carry up to 50 lbs on a regular basis.

The campaign will for sure make a statement and, hopefully, what will come out of it is safer and better working conditions for farm workers, documented or not.

If Colbert and UFW can give politicians an extra push toward dealing with immigration reform, that wouldn't hurt either.

Comments 6

Submitted by Stephen S. on Fri, 07/30/2010 - 11:38pm
How about it Mr. Colbert, mano a mano! I bet he doesn't even read this blog:(

Submitted by Stephen S. on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 1:41pm
If the illegal immigrants were sent back, then the corporate farms would be forced to not exploit and mistreat their workers. What a pity!

Submitted by Stephen S. on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 7:54pm
Well, the court says Americans born in this country don't need jobs. It's the Mexicans that need them. So they can come over here and work as much as they want! The Mexicans can continue to undercut American workers now and not pay taxes, and according to the federal government we can all go to hell! What about all the construction, roofing, mechanic and bilingual jobs they take also. You know I expect that opinion from Stephen Cobert. A person very detached from the real American struggle. His show also made lite of the South African genocide. I don't give a damn about his employed smug plastic land opinion. I learned Spanish as a second language. But they would rather hire a Mexican lady than me. Because they are racists, and they say they are minorities. What a bunch of B.S. I spent years learning Spanish so that people could tell me I'm not qualified just because I learned it as a second language. I spent three years in South America trying to get a job teaching English and I was always denied!!!! because I was American!

Submitted by liquidsolidrooster on Sat, 06/26/2010 - 3:01pm
I definitely encourage anyone to take on the work and let us know what you see and how it feels. Despite what anyone may think we will rarely see Americans work under the conditions. If we don't see them, don't be discourage as we take the opportunity to try observe the life as an immigrant. Notice their positive attitudes, their communication and how they embrace their strong work ethic given the little they have.
flockall's picture

Submitted by flockall on Sat, 06/26/2010 - 5:37am
I grew up on a farm, now technolodgy developer. I love this project because it is hard, hot and those who who put up will be rewarded with not only a rude awakening but an amazing experience that will change their life. That is if they can hack it!

Submitted by pierresplace on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 7:30pm
Do you think that Americans, the people that sweat to build this great land of ours, are not up to this challenge because they might have to sweat, have muscle aches, or receive less than proper pay? You have no idea what you're in for. I registered for work just as soon as I saw the challenge and I'm in Tampa, FL and I'm ready to report for work right now, and if my guess is correct, I will lead a great deal of people to do the same. I would suggest to be prepared for history to be made. I sweat at work before most of you were born.