Kratovil, Crab Industry Reps, and Watermen to Mark Securing the Needed Workers to Salvage Remainder of Crab Season
Access to H2B visas have allowed the industry to open for a late season, but a season that will ensure jobs, local commerce, and continued strength of the industry.
Washington, DC – Although the prospects were often unclear, the Maryland Crab Industry will come to celebrate the release of additional H2B work visas that will provide the needed work force to keep the industry afloat.
Responding to efforts by Congressman Frank Kratovil the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of FY09 H-2B visas for temporary workers; provide immediate relief to numerous Maryland crab processing businesses.
This announcement is welcome news to the Maryland crab industry, which has been dealing with a severe labor shortage that has prevented a number of processing facilities from opening this season, while those that have been opened have been operating at levels far below capacity. Reopening these facilities will have a major impact on the local economy; a recent study from the University of Maryland found that each H-2B worker in the crab industry supports 2.5 American jobs.
Who: Rep. Frank Kratovil, local watermen, restaurant owners, crab house owners.
What: As the watermen return to shore after a day’s work they will be met by the Congressman, crab house owners, and restaurant owners to celebrate the salvaged season.
Where: Old Salty’s Restaurant
2560 Hooper’s Island Rd.
Fishing Creek, MD 21634
When: Monday August 31st -- 3PM – 5PM
“This is an opportunity for Eastern Shore communities that have been hurting because of the closed picking houses to come together and celebrate this industry saving development. These additional visas will allow Maryland’s crab processors to open and remain viable throughout the rest of this season. Its good news for the watermen, picking house owners and employees, truck drivers, restaurant owners, community bankers, and everyone else whose livelihood is impacted by the crabbing industry, I’m glad to have the opportunity to celebrate with them all.”
– Rep. Frank Kratovil
16 comments:
Sounds like an invitation to picket imported illegal aliens who drop "anchor babies" here in order to stay.
Last time I looked, there's no labor shortage... only a pay shortage in the seafood industry. With 10% unemployment, there are citizens with families that need this work, and as I recall, seafood is one of the most expensive foods at the grocery store. Where is all that money going?
When the visa's expire will these workers leave or simply vanish into this country? Who will be responsible for their health care? If they give birth while here, is that child a U.S. citizen? Can we bill Kratovil or Mikulski for any expenses related to these workers?
How many of these visa holders will return home??? They'll have a baby, then chain migration kicks in and 25 more family members come in.
We have to thank Teddy Kennedy for this legislation. He promised the influx of third world immigrants WOULD NOT change the make-up of the U.S population. After all, we had to be fair and allow others in. It was wrong to only allow northern europeans to emmigrate to U.S.
If it wasn't all this fawning over Ted, I would not have learned this. I always wondered what became of allowing certain quotas from specific countries to enter the U.S.
Thanks Ted.
Yea, Frank, this helps a few crab processors, but what about the huge bill for the taxpayers?
We'll pay for their housing, health care, welfare benefits.
Yeah, Let's all celebrate higher taxes.
If the stingy carb processors paid a decent wage, plenty of American citizens would gladly take those jobs.
Have you forgetten that our unemployment rate is almost 16% when ALL categories are counted?
That 16% is not celebrating.
With so many citizens not having jobs, why the heck give them to foreigners? instead of closing why didnt the advertise the jobs? Are they paying less than minimum wage? Tax free maybe? Can someone please explain why our shores heritages are now using foreign workers and not employing local families who need jobs?
Hes another one. Whats the point.
You people could be handed a giant pile of money each and you would STILL find something to complain about. If he doesn't help watermen you complain and if he DOES you complain. This town needs an enema.
I guess Babs is miffed that Kratovil seems to be taking all the credit for these visas.
She has been working on these visas for years, and here comes Frank claiming credit.
Sorry Mikulski.(It's JOBS, JOBS, JOBS was her chant)
Too bad our reps work for the other guys, the foreigners.
How are these workers tracked?
Orsonwells is right...sounds like an inivitation to thank Frank for bringing in more illegals.
See you there!!!
Where's Clinton's Welfare to work Program?
Why should former crab pickers, that now live in the housing project, work????
Their housing is pro rated on income, have food stamps, health card, and cable tv.
Reform welfare and there'd be plenty of seafood workers.
Four years and the old crab guys will talk the mexicanos into hell yes this is a great way to make a living and sell out. Our fkn eastern shore crabs will all be from illegals. Aint that some shit.
6:55, Advertise? 15 years ago you couldn't get locals to pick anymore, so why would they now? Trying to get an american to pick crabs, shuck oysters, or work in the fields is nearly impossible. The imported workers don't complain, don't ask to borrow money everyday while you are having to drive them to the liquor store, and they actually show up on Friday and Saturdays. Having workers that don't speak english can actually be a good thing.
On another note. This story is so biased it is rediculous. They should ask any Wicomico Co. waterman (there are only a few left) what they think about the impact of this issue. This has been a terrible season, and the last for many watermen.
I bet he never realized how many "Moments of Grace" he would be missing with his family. I t aint worth it Frank, I think you have already realized that. It aint worth the things you cant get back. Nothing is.
7:40PM has it right. What a shame! The government has made it more financially attractive to stay off the work rolls than on. What a sad commentary.
The jobs may not pay much, but dignity comes with working. My first job hoeing strawberry plants only paid .35 cents an hour, but it was more than the government handout at the time.
We have taken people off the work rolls that filled all of these low paying agriculture and waterman jobs...what a shame, and at the same time robbed them of their dignity. No wonder we are experiencing a high level of criminal activity in our communities and country. What else is left, but to succeed in the drug enterprise.
Nail on the head, 9:54!
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