A class action lawsuit alleges that Global Horizons denied work to approximately 600 Yakima valley farm workers when the company imported workers from Thailand under the federal H-2A guest-worker program. The suit alleges that the Los Angeles-based labor contractor violated state and federal laws by illegally and intentionally displacing them with foreign workers. The federal H-2A guest worker program allows employers to import foreign labor only after they've shown local workers aren't available.
The suit also alleges local farm workers were denied work because Global gave them false and misleading information, including promising work but then reneging or changing orientation dates.