Without foreign workers, U.S. parks struggle

[babylonsister]

Without foreign workers, U.S. parks struggle
Visa delays are leaving popular tourist spots like Yosemite without the foreign laborers who take on the dirtiest jobs.
By Christopher Reynolds, Times Staff Writer
May 27, 2007


YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — From Ukraine to Ecuador, scores of young maids and dishwashers are having trouble getting U.S. visas this spring — and that means trouble in Yosemite Valley.

"I've been making beds and scrubbing showers," said Tracy Rogge, vice president of operations for park concessionaire Delaware North Cos. The chief operating officer "cleaned toilets and bagged groceries. Our director of finance was making burgers. This really caught us off-guard."

Laura Chastain, recruiting manager for Delaware North, estimates that she is 300 employees short. "I don't sleep at night right now," she said.

snip//

This shift in makeup has attracted little notice, perhaps because so many recruits land in "back-of-the-house" jobs. But this spring — as President Bush and Congress began to wrestle again over immigration policy — scores of would-be Yosemite workers hit a snag in their visa paperwork. That left park managers facing a staffing shortfall and has raised a pair of awkward questions.

Can these national parks can get along any more without international workers? And will Yosemite have its act together in time for the summer rush that begins this weekend?

more...

[Donnachaidh]

1. my heart BLEEDS for these officials that have to clean toilets and make beds

REALLY. :sarcasm:

[BOSSHOG]

2. It won't be long

before flag waving brave conservatives start bitching about either the lack of produce on the shelves or the incredible increase in prices. Imagine, a bush supporter scratching his head trying to figure out why lettuce is so expensive.

The bitching about lack of services at Yosemite will start in about a week.

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. How, pray tell, did this country ever get along without our foreign slaves?

:banghead:

Years ago, hubby worked as a garbage man during the summer. It was some of the dirtiest work he ever did. When he told me he made $15/hour, I was speechless. His response, "You have to pay people good money to do work that others don't want to do." We've lost that value as a country.

Oh, that $15/hour was back in the late 70's when minimum wage was around $2.15.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Maybe the national park service could hire college students

There may be enough students who could use the extra money over the summer.

[jayfish]

5. How About A High-School Age Program...

that pays minimum wage, includes some type of coursework and awards college credits? We have a total lack of imagination in the country.

Jay

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. I disagree that we lack imagination

Just look at what you've suggested! Great idea!

What we lack is the will to implement real solutions that bring greater things to bear. It's guaranteed that the first question asked when a suggestion is offered will be: How much is this gonna cost? The question of how much is the payoff just doesn't get asked unless it's ROI stock...on second thought, maybe that's the "answer" that they're looking for. Sell off the national treasures and hire contractors to run them. They've done it with just about everything else from skylines and interstates. :(

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Many jobs at Shenandoah park are privatized

ARAMARK Corp "owns" the restaurants, lodges, cabins. Or, at least they own the staff that works in those places. It isn't the park service, they just let out the contracts.

http://www.aramark.com/Careers.aspx?ChannelID=192

[Brigid]

6. Then let them hire American citizens.

What a concept. :eyes:

[High Plains]

10. Where are the American citizens?

Do they all want $20 an hour to be maids?

[Brigid]

11. Hardly.

But minimum wage would be a start.

[fasttense]

7. Maybe if they raise the wages of young maids and dishwashers

they wouldn't have this problem. It wont change overnight because those jobs have the bad reputation of being underpaid and overworked. But a five to ten dollar an hour increase will bring scores of people knocking on their door.

[HockeyMom]

8. Similar article in Newsday

The fields on the East End of LI and the businesses in the Hamptons are having trouble finding workers this year. They are citing the problems with visas (and illegals?) and the increased costs of gas. They interviewed a few college students who used to work the restaurants and shops there for the summer. They said since they don't live in the immediate area, the low salaries combined with high gas prices, doesn't make it worth their while to work there anymore. As one student said, "I would be spending nearly all my wages on gas".