Current Issues

Current Issues

"Mis-shaped Bales" Letter to Gin and Warehouse
A letter to state and regional gin associations and cotton warehouse associations from the National Cotton Council and the National Cotton Ginners Association describes the problems of misshapened bales at warehouses, including increased handling time per bale and loss of storage space. The letter urges gins to accept the challenge of producing well packaged bales of uniform size, shape and density that enhance the image of U.S.cotton.

Bale Press Maintenance and Bale Shape Uniformity (1.8 MB pdf)
Misshapened bales present a problem for not only gins and warehouses but also textile mills and the transportation industry. The most obvious problems include increased per bale handling charges. It is important for ginners to understand the significant safety hazards at the gin and warehouses associated with misshapened bales. The following power point presentation, created by Joe Thomas and Duncan McCook with Lummus Corporation, was created to assist ginners as they seek solutions to address the issue of misshapen bales. This presentation was given by Mr. McCook at the 2008 Ginners Conference in Nashville.

DHS Fact Sheet IncludesSSA Mismatch Letter Announcement
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced publication of a final rule(1.9mb pdf) establishing safe harbor procedures for employers who receive a Social Security Administration (SSA) mismatch letter or notice from DHS that an individual lacks authorization to work. The final rule is expected to be published in the Federal Registerthis week, and it will take effect 30 days after publication.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced new policies for a stepped-up immigration enforcement program, including one that would target employers who ignore notices from the federal government that they have employees with questionable documentation.

Homeland Security agents now will be informed when the Social Security Administration sends a “no-match” letter to employers with a significant number of employees in question.

Though the law currently provides that employers could be fined for hiring illegal immigrants, the new policy clarifies that the federal government could hold them liable if they fail to take steps within 90 days of receiving a no-match letter.

Other policies include: (1) directing the Labor Dept. to review a seasonal agricultural worker program and institute changes that will provide farmers with an “orderly and timely flow of legal workers”; (2) unveiling a revised naturalization test in September; (3) reducing the number of documents, currently at 29, employers can accept to confirm the identity and eligibility of an employee; (4) seeking voluntary partnerships with states that would allow the federal government to access photographs in Dept. of Motor Vehicle databases to help root out the use of fraudulent driver’s licenses and lay the foundation for an expanded employer verification system; and (5) requiring through a “rulemaking process” that all federal contractors and vendors verify the legal work status of their employees through the federal verification system.

Approved Bale Packaging and Experimental Test Programs
Ginners are advised to take steps to ensure they are using only materials that meet JCIBPC and USDA CCC packaging specifications. However, variances from the specifications are granted by USDA CCC for packaging materials in JCIBPC experimental or compatibility test programs.