The Guest Worker Program, also called H-2A, provides a way for foreign workers to receive a visa for temporary farm work in the US. About 200,000 Mexican workers were provided visas as guest workers under this program in the US in 2017, helping fill a critical gap in farm labor. It is controversial because union organizers oppose the program believing that the shortage of workers will help them in organizing unions. Union organizing activity in Washington state is receiving national and international attention because of accusations of abuse of farmers carried by numerous media outlets and the use of lawsuits and boycotts against farms and prominent brands.
