JUSTICE FOR FARMWORKERS NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2009
CONTACT: Jordan Wells, Coordinator, Justice for Farmworkers Campaign, 845/ 891-7046, wells.jord@gmail.com or Rev. Richard Witt, 845 706-0536. www.justiceforfarmworkers.org

Decades in the making, farmworker equal rights bill finally makes it on to Senate agenda
Statewide poll shows overwhelming support for farmworker rights

Results released today of a new statewide poll (PDF) show that New Yorkers overwhelmingly support extending overtime (79%), day of rest (91%), collective bargaining (69%), and disability insurance (85%) protections to farmworkers.

Farmworkers and their allies rejoiced last night at the news that Governor Paterson had placed farmworker rights on the agenda for today’s Extraordinary Session. The Justice for Farmworkers Campaign seeks the removal of the labor law exclusions that for decades have unjustly denied farmworkers the same rights and protections as other workers.

In a letter dated June 21 asking Governor Paterson to include farmworker rights on the special session agenda, former farmworker and longtime equal rights advocate Librada Paz writes, “The Justice for Farmworkers Campaign has had many years of marching, praying, hoping, and lobbying. Farmworkers should not have to wait any longer. This year we must harvest all of our efforts.”

“Establishing basic workplace protections to farmworkers is long overdue in New York State. Farmworkers contribute greatly to our economy with their hard work and dedication. We must work to ensure equal rights among all laborers,” said Sen. Neil Breslin (D- Albany), who is co-prime sponsor of the bill.

Sen. George Onorato (D-Queens), the Senate Labor Committee Chairman and co-prime sponsor, added, “I hope that this will be a year when the Legislature and Governor can come together to expand worker rights for these vitally important employees.”

“In 2009, farm workers must have the same collective bargaining rights, worker’s compensation rights, unemployment benefits, and other basic rights allocated to workers in other states. They have been left behind long enough. This is no longer justifiable for 2009,” said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. The Assembly passed the bill on June 8.

The Rural and Migrant Ministry, the state’s largest agricultural advocacy group, in religious covenant with over one million people of faith across the state, will be joined by farmworkers and other allies outside of the Senate Chamber today at 2 p.m. to ensure that justice is not put off for yet another year. “We have been blessed to be nourished by the labor of our brothers and sisters; and yet we respond by denying them a place at the table. When voices cry out with excuses as to why farmworkers shouldn't be welcome at the table, our voices become all too easily silenced,” said The Reverend Richard Witt, Director of Rural and Migrant Ministry. “Now is the time for us, as people rooted in a faith tradition of justice and human dignity, to stand up and welcome farmworkers equally to the table.  We must now urge the Senate to pass the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act.”

Summary of Poll Findings [Full results here in PDF form.]

-When asked how important farm workers are to the state’s economy, 95 percent overall thought they are very or somewhat important to New York’s – 22 percent saying somewhat, but a full quarter of the sample, 73 percent, thinking very important.

-We wanted to know next about New York labor laws and coverage extended to farm workers. Most, 52 percent, just were not sure; 5 percent thought fully covered; 23 percent believe partial coverage is extended and 20 percent no coverage at all.

-Ninety-one percent of respondents would like to see a day of rest per week as a right for farm workers.

-The legal minimum wage for farm workers under the age of 18 years is $3.20 per hour. We asked if that was acceptable. Seventy-seven percent thought not and another 16 percent said that it was.

-On the issue of overtime pay for farm workers, 79 percent thought they should receive it for more than 40 hours of work in a week. Another 10 percent responded negatively.

-Eight-five percent of voters thought farm workers should be covered under the Temporary Disability Insurance Program, one that is already extended to farm workers in New Jersey and is also extended to virtually all other workers here in New York.

-Farm workers and organizing – 69 percent of respondents believe that farm workers should have the right to form unions to 17 percent who thought they should not be allowed to do so.

-On the question of availability of potential farm workers in the workforce, would more folks be inclined to work on farms if their efforts were equal to other workers and environments in the state? Sixty-nine percent believe more people would work on farms if that was the case.

-Finally, the fact that right now farm workers are not equal in rights and protections offered in New York to other workers begs the question of civil rights and labor rights issues. Four percent see it as a civil rights issue alone, 26 percent as a labor rights issue by itself and 54 percent associated it in both civil and labor forums.

Sample: 401 registered to vote among the general public in New York state.
Interviews were conducted via telephone by the Benchmark Polling Group, June 8-10, 2009.
The overall sample margin of error is +/- 4.85. Margins will be greater in cross-tabulations of subsets.
Full results here in PDF form.

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Last Updated:06/24/2009
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