The carnivals, circuses and charity events that are a part of summer entertainment depend on legal foreign seasonal workers to set up rides, move the tents, sell the tickets and do the hundreds of other jobs that keep roller coasters on track and Ferris wheels turning.
These repeat seasonal workers are caught in a Congressional Catch-22 that has far-reaching implications for the outdoor amusement industry and for the cities, counties, civic organizations and community groups that depend on carnivals and fairs to raise money for everything from scholarships to hospitals.
“I do not believe that Congress is aware of how many people are going to be hurt by the cap on the H-2B visa program,” said Mitchell Kaliff, president of Kaliff Insurance, an agency that insures fairs, carnivals, circuses and other outdoor events. “For example, many of the livestock shows, carnivals and fairs raise money for college scholarships. No one wants to see these scholarships jeopardized.”
Kaliff explained that since 1990, the H-2B visa program has granted a maximum of 66,000 visas annually to seasonal laborers. This number includes agricultural workers, amusement industry workers, fishing boat crews and other unskilled laborers. The “Save Our Small Seasonal Business Act of 2005" exempted many temporary seasonal workers, but the act expired on September 30, 2007, leaving the outdoor amusement industry with the potential of having to cancel events for lack of workers.
Under the provisions of the H-2B program, employers may not apply for workers until 120 days before they are needed. Since the workers aren’t needed until summer, the program’s inadequate cap of 66,000 is reached by employers in other industries before the outdoor amusement employers can even apply.
Last week, Kaliff, carnival owner Nancy Bishop, and James Judkins, who helps laborers get their visas, met with Congressman Charles Gonzalez, D-San Antonio. “I think those of who are involved in the outdoor amusement industry were able to provide the information Congressman Gonzalez needed to see the enormous impact of the current situation,” said Kaliff. “The Congressman said he would meet with the appropriate legislators in Washington, D.C., and work with them to resolve the situation before it is too late.”
Kaliff pointed out that major events, such as the San Antonio Rodeo and Stock Show, as well as county fairs will see a significant drop in their revenues if something isn’t done. “Revenues from a summer carnival or a county fair send underprivileged children to camp, provide scholarships, support the arts and help restore historical buildings, to name just a few” said Kaliff. “This is in addition to providing an opportunity for families to have fun together.”
Seasonal workers who will not be able to come to the United States will find their income’s drastically reduced. Outdoor amusement workers are among the highest paid of unskilled laborers. “The going rate for an unskilled worker may be $5 in one state, but if the laborer works for a carnival that operates in a state where the wage is $10 per hour, than that is what must be paid throughout the season,” said Kaliff. He pointed out that while most carnivals have a permanent staff of American workers, there are not enough workers who want to travel all around the country only to be laid off at the end of the season. “Legal foreign workers, who obey the law and whose taxes are withheld, are absolutely necessary for shows to go on,” said Kaliff. “We are counting on Congressman Gonzalez to help us make that happen.”
Kaliff urges all those involved with the outdoor amusement industry, especially community and civic groups who depend on revenue from fairs to support their various projects, to contact the men and women who represent them in Washington, D.C.
For more information contact:
Media Contact: Bruce Smiley, by phone: 210.829.7634 or by email: bas@kaliff.com
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