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New
York State's Farmworkers Need Collective Bargaining Rights
Problem:
Current labor law is discriminatory toward farmworkers and
inconsistent with the New York State Constitution.
Background:
Although Article 1, Section 17 of the State Constitution grants all
workers the right to organize and bargain collectively, the State Labor
Relations Act of 1937, Article 20, Section 701 denies farmworkers the
rights and protections of collective bargaining. Some workers have been
punished with job loss for seeking to bargain collectively.
Impact:
Rectifying the inconsistency in state law would give farmworkers the
same protections that other workers enjoy. They could then enter into
good faith negotiations over the terms of employment with their
employers, without fear of sanctions.
Adapted from Working
Together: Position Papers for 1997 Farmworker Advocacy Day
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