“Do Your Jobs” Campaign Continues with Direct Calls to Action from Local Immigrant Workers and Business Owners
Last month, we kicked off the “Do Your Jobs” campaign by attempting to deliver immigrant-processed turkeys and merlot wine to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and other House leadership offices. The goal of the effort, organized by America’s Voice, United Farm Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers, Mi Familia Vota, and AFL-CIO, was to remind Republican leaders of the important work immigrants do every day so that they can enjoy holidays with their loved ones. In exchange, we asked House Republicans to take 15 minutes out of their busy vacation schedules and schedule a vote on a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants who aspire to be Americans.
Unfortunately, we had doors locked in our faces. But we’re continuing the campaign to showcase how hard many Americans work every day, in contrast to our “leaders” in Congress who are holding up action on immigration reform. As the House prepares to work its final 5 days of 2013, we’re continuing to highlight real people who do their jobs every day, and only want their leaders in Congress to do the same.
In our latest profile, we’re lifting up Mark Gilson, a nursery owner in northeast Ohio. View a our blog post here.
Mark works seven days a week. Even on weekends and holidays, Mark must check on his greenhouses to make sure everything is operating smoothly.
Mark is a third-generation owner of a nursery in Lake County, Ohio, where he relies on seasonal agricultural workers and student workers to help run his business. He supervises up to 35 workers who do potting, trimming, weeding, and winterizing tasks at the nursery. In Lake County, each nursery job supports 3.5 jobs in the broader economy.
“Congress needs to find the courage to address immigration reform – the entire system, including the 11 million undocumented people in our country. We have an opportunity to do the right thing, and in doing so reap long-term economic benefits. Agriculture and nurseries are a big part of our local economy and I would like to see it stay that way.”
Mark is doing his job. Speaker Boehner, why aren’t you doing yours?
It’s time to give Mark and other small business owners a vote.
