NY farmworker labor bill, immigration reform and Food, Inc.
Written by barb howe Monday, 08 June 2009 14:13
Three items to note this week:
The New York Senate is about to vote on a bill giving labor rights to farmworkers that other workers won decades ago: a 40 hour work week, over-time pay and a day off.
Here are two articles: Kerry Kennedy Op-ed: Time to end Jim Crow's reign on New York farms and a NY Daily News Editorial: Harvest Fairness
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Comprehensive Immigration Reform is one of his three highest priorities for completion this session, and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Charles Schumer of New York, said early 2010 is the likely moment for passage. Bills are being drafted. AgJOBS, which has been introduced as stand-alone bills in both the Senate and the House, would be included in any comprehensive package and would add bipartisan support.
President Obama will meet with Congressional leaders on June 17 regarding immigration legislation. He and his staff already have said the White House is committed to passing comprehensive reform this session. Then-Senator Obama supported AgJOBS.
See the Washington Post article.
This looks like a great critique of the U.S. way of agriculture, though it'd be even greater if it also addressed another by-product of that system: the deplorable living and working conditions that so many of our nation's farmworkers endure. Opening in NY, LA and San Francisco June 12th.
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