The PLCAA?EUR??,,????'???s Ongoing
Push for More Guest
Workers WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Professional Lawn Care Association of America?EUR??,,????'???s effort to bring more workers into the country to relieve the continuing labor shortage was the focus of the group?EUR??,,????'???s July Legislative Day in the nation?EUR??,,????'???s capital.

Here is a first-hand report from Tom Delaney, the PLCAA?EUR??,,????'???s vice-president of government affairs.

?EUR??,,????'??Because of the current labor shortage, and projections that it will worsen as baby boomers retire, it is essential that Congress pass immigration reform that increases the number of (H-2B) workers permitted into the United States each year and streamlines the application process for hiring these workers. Without these changes, the lawn care and landscape industries will continue to face a labor shortage.?EUR??,,????'??

?EUR??,,????'??We had Charlene Giles, of the Division of Foreign Labor Certification make a great presentation and answer questions about the H-2B (guest worker) application process. We need to make sure our applications are timely and errorless and that we only ask for the number of workers we need?EUR??,,????'???and hold those processing our forms accountable. We need to keep up the pressure on legislators until changes are made to bring in sufficient workers. Each time we get members of the industry to participate in the political process, from a letter being sent through the association?EUR??,,????'???s web sites to attendance at the lobby day in Washington, we are building a green army that can be mobilized when we need a consolidated push.?EUR??,,????'??