Justice for Farmworkers
Justice for Farmworkers
Since the 1930s New York's farmworkers have been excluded from the same rights and protections that most other workers take for granted, including a day of rest per week, overtime pay, disability insurance, and the right to bargain collectively with their employers. The Justice for Farmworkers Campaign brings together a remarkable coalition of faith communities, students and labor to stand with farmworkers in an effort to gain equality under New York State labor law.
New York farm workers deserve equality
Only recently have farmworkers been granted the right to clean drinking water in the fields, sanitation facilities, and the right to the same minimum wage as other workers, but the exclusions still remain. The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act (S.3884/A.7528), a bill currently in the NY State Legislature, would remove these exclusions and grant farmworkers the dignity and equality they deserve.
Join us in the struggle for equal rights!
For more information email farmworkerjustice@gmail.com
Summary of the exclusion of farmworkers from New York labor laws
| Business/Industry |
Farmworkers |
|
| Collective Bargaining |
Workers protected when bargaining collectively |
No protection |
| Child Labor |
Youth minimum age |
Lower minimum age |
| Child Labor Restriction |
Restriction on children's hours, ages and hazardous work |
Fewer restrictions |
| Overtime pay |
Overtime pay |
No overtime pay |
| Unemployment Insurance |
$300 payroll threshold for employers |
$20,000 payroll threshold for employers |
| Disability Insurance |
Required |
Not required |
| Day of rest |
Mandatory day of rest |
No day of rest |
| Sanitation |
Toilet required even if just one employee |
Toilet required only if more than 5 workers |
| Health and safety |
Work sites must be arranged and operated safely |
Generally not covered by state and occupational health and safety laws |
| Safety training |
Annual worker safety education required |
Safety education not required, except for pesticides |
| Heat stress |
Shorted work periods, areas for cooling down |
No requirements when exposed to extreme heat |
| Pesticides |
Routine monitoring of workers' exposure |
No monitoring |
| Living |
Building and lodging codes |
New York Health code permits latrines. Inspections are only conducted at camps with 5 or more workers. |
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