Push for farmworker rights

Packer Managing Editor Fred Wilkinson here.

A New York Times editorial calls for expanding ag labor rights in New York state and goes on to make the case that the time is right for expanding them at the federal level:

"In New York, advocates are pressing for passage of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, which would give these workers the rights that others have long taken for granted, as well as seek badly needed improvements in safety and sanitary conditions in the fields. Domestic workers, meanwhile, are seeking a “Bill of Rights” in Albany covering things like overtime pay, cost-of-living raises and health benefits. A separate effort begun last week seeks to end these stubbornly lingering injustices for workers in all states by fixing federal law. It was announced on Cesar Chavez’s birthday by old lions of his movement, including Jerry Cohen, who as general counsel of the United Farm Workers helped win passage of a landmark 1975 California law that secured unprecedented rights for the state’s farm workers. The campaign has been joined by a growing number of labor groups and immigrant advocates, like Cardinal Roger Mahony of Los Angeles and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, which represents migrant workers in the Midwest and North Carolina."

Although such calls for expanded rights will get more attention than they would have under some previous administrations, it's likely they will take a backseat to larger financial market concerns for the time being at least.

Still, produce companies and their representative organizations need to keep their eyes on this labor agenda and be ready to give input and, when and if appropriate, their opposition.