By Blake Jackson
In the case of New York Vegetable Growers Association v. Hochul, a U.S. District Judge in New York has lifted the majority of a preliminary injunction that had placed farm worker labor rights in the state under the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act. This decision restores farm workers' rights under the law and allows the continuation of organizing campaigns by the United Farm Workers (UFW) in New York.
UFW Secretary Treasurer Armando Elenes expressed a mixed reaction, stating, "While we welcome most of this ruling, we cannot forget or forgive the fact that New York farm workers’ rights were effectively taken away from them for almost half a year." The injunction, in place from October 2023 to February 2024, caused significant harm to farm workers across the state.
With the law now reinstated, UFW calls on the five farms, including four parties involved in the lawsuit, where workforces have chosen to join UFW. Elenes urges these farms to recognize the law and their workers' wishes by engaging in fair negotiations for a union contract.
UFW Counsel Mario Martinez acknowledged the dismissal of the growers' claims denying farm workers the right to join a union. Martinez emphasized that the growers do not represent the interests of the farm workers. Despite the disappointment in the judge finding a small provision of the law to be overbroad, UFW is eager to resume assisting farmworkers in joining a union and achieving improvements through collective bargaining agreements now that the temporary stay has been lifted.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zbynek-pospisil
Categories: New York, Government & Policy