Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(117,584 posts)
Sun May 13, 2018, 11:01 PM May 2018

'Tricked by the devil.' They backed Trump. Now, his foreign labor cuts may ruin them.

Eddie Devine voted for President Donald Trump because he thought he would be good for American business. Now, he says, the Trump administration’s restrictions on seasonal foreign labor may put him out of business.

“I feel like I’ve been tricked by the devil,” said Devine, owner of Harrodsburg-based Devine Creations Landscaping. “I feel so stupid.”

Devine says it has been years since he could find enough dependable, drug-free American workers for his $12-an-hour jobs mowing and tending landscapes for cemeteries, shopping centers and apartment complexes across Central Kentucky.

So for years he has hired 20 seasonal workers, mostly from Guatemala, through the U.S. Labor Department’s H2-B “guest worker” program. Importing these workers for a few months cost him an additional $18,000 in fees and expenses beyond their wages, which must be the same as he pays American workers. But that’s the only way he could serve his customers.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article210676214.html

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'Tricked by the devil.' They backed Trump. Now, his foreign labor cuts may ruin them. (Original Post) TexasTowelie May 2018 OP
I might be misremembering things, but didn't Trump campaign on keeping others out? fleabiscuit May 2018 #1
I seem to remember something along those lines...wait, did my lights just flicker? Midnight Writer May 2018 #9
"I feel so stupid." dchill May 2018 #2
Why does he need drug free employees to cut grass? Glamrock May 2018 #3
Liability insurance. TexasTowelie May 2018 #4
I get that, but ya get one guy or two on the crew to be your drivers. Glamrock May 2018 #5
Workers compensation too. TexasTowelie May 2018 #6
"I feel so stoopid!" sprinkleeninow May 2018 #7
Stupid doesn't even begin to cover it. caballojm May 2018 #8
Tricked by the guy whose campaign intro was "Sympathy For The Devil"? (no joke, watch the clips) Midnight Writer May 2018 #10
And....he'll be tricked again. And vote for Trump next time too LiberalLovinLug May 2018 #11
+1000!!! C Moon May 2018 #13
TexasTowelie, I'm with you... C Moon May 2018 #12
- Bigredhunk May 2018 #14
You lick the devil's ass rock May 2018 #15

fleabiscuit

(4,542 posts)
1. I might be misremembering things, but didn't Trump campaign on keeping others out?
Sun May 13, 2018, 11:32 PM
May 2018

Sheesh. How could he not see that?

Glamrock

(11,994 posts)
3. Why does he need drug free employees to cut grass?
Sun May 13, 2018, 11:43 PM
May 2018

I mean, sure you don't want junkies. But potheads? And yeah, $12 an hour to be in the sun all day is gonna limit your employment pool.

TexasTowelie

(117,584 posts)
4. Liability insurance.
Mon May 14, 2018, 12:05 AM
May 2018

If any of those employees are driving a vehicle and ends up in an accident, then he is liable for not screening out that risk. His insurance company may require him to take some type of proactive plan as a condition of providing coverage. Keep in mind that they are often driving around in a truck and trailer with upwards of $50K of their own equipment and that they are bigger than most other vehicles out there so they are more likely to cause damage to others.

I agree that $12 an hour is on the low side for the type of work involved which explains why he can't fill the open positions in his company.

What's a stoner supposed to do?

Glamrock

(11,994 posts)
5. I get that, but ya get one guy or two on the crew to be your drivers.
Mon May 14, 2018, 12:10 AM
May 2018

I mean, I'm sure the immigrant labor isn't covered either.

TexasTowelie

(117,584 posts)
6. Workers compensation too.
Mon May 14, 2018, 12:24 AM
May 2018

Even if the employee was hired under false pretenses (e.g., forged documents) they are still eligible for workers compensation if injured on the job in many states.

sprinkleeninow

(20,594 posts)
7. "I feel so stoopid!"
Mon May 14, 2018, 01:09 AM
May 2018

Like another offered, "That's a start!"

How could they not see? [Rhetorical]

They got had, taken, duped, bamboozled.

dumasses.....

Midnight Writer

(23,143 posts)
10. Tricked by the guy whose campaign intro was "Sympathy For The Devil"? (no joke, watch the clips)
Mon May 14, 2018, 01:19 AM
May 2018

LiberalLovinLug

(14,383 posts)
11. And....he'll be tricked again. And vote for Trump next time too
Mon May 14, 2018, 01:34 AM
May 2018

RW hate radio will work on him with the new candidate we have for 2020. By the time they've finished with him, he'll be shaking in his boots at the crazy criminal that the Democrats are putting up. The very country will be once more at stake, on the precipice of falling into a socialist, Islamic, gay pit of hell. And then he'll shrug and say, what else can I do but vote for the devil I know?

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Kentucky»'Tricked by the devil.' T...