Two other recommendations of a more general nature have emerged from our study. and we present those in this concluding section. First. however. we wish to explain why one important subject is not covered in this report. We have chosen not to discuss here the adequacy of present provisions in Michigan for the general welfare of migrant workershealth and education services. sanitation. housing. and various kinds of protective legislation. Our reason is that these matters have been under study by the Governors commission on migrant labor for some time. This commission submitted a report with numerous recommendations on April 1. 1965. Some of the recommendations have been acted upon by the State legislature. others remain under active consideration. and the Commission is continuing its studies. We have not intruded into its assigned field because we believe that it speaks with much greater knowledge of the general conditions of migrant labor in Michigan than we could hope to acquire in our necessarily brief study with its primary focus on the pickle industry. We can say. however. that in our opinion substantial progress is presently being made In Michigan in this important area of provisions for the general welfare of migrant workers. Improving the Utilization of Harvest Labor One pickle grower reported to us in a letter that this years Texans were much harder to handle than the braceros. the Texans all had cars. the growers said. and if you spoke sharply to them they just drove away. This complaint suggests that past reliance on braceros may have impeded or made unnecessary in this industry the development of supervisory practices that are appropriate for dealing with American citizens.
Identified stereotypes
Texans are harder to handle than braceros because they have cars and will leave if spoken to sharply.