Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a lawsuit to block new federal protections for foreign farmworkers on H2-A temporary visas.
Marshall, along with Republican attorneys general from Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, argued in the motion to intervene that the rule places undue burdens on farmers and would allow migrant workers employed under the H-2A visa program to organize and engage in collective bargaining. That, they argued, can only be done through legislative action.
“Attempting to establish collective bargaining rights for H-2A workers is beyond the scope of what Congress has intended for the department (of Labor) to consider,” the lawsuit stated.
A message seeking comment was left with Marshall’s office on Tuesday.
The rule, issued by the Biden administration in April, provides more protections for temporary farmworkers by addressing issues like employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions and illegal recruitment.