The United Farm Workers just had its biggest unionizing success in years, and it didn’t happen in California.
In a first for the historic labor union, it organized nearly 500 workers at five farms in New York. The victories, which will increase UFW’s membership by 8%, come four years after a state law passed giving farm workers the right to organize.
“For us, it’s proof of concept that when you change the laws, workers can win,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, a UFW spokesperson.
Like many unions, UFW has struggled to organize over the last few decades, its membership dwindling from 60,000 to around 6,000. Even with legal protection, farmworker organizing is often slow, painstaking work. Many prospective union members are reluctant to give up 3% of their already low wages for dues, and worry that their immigration status leaves them vulnerable to employer retaliation.
But there are signs of a resurgence on both sides of the country.
The New York law includes components similar to recent California legislation. Its signing culminated a long battle by UFW to expand unionization rights for farm workers. Now, bolstered by the new law, some labor experts say similar victories could be on their way in the Golden State.
“Union victories in New York show us that laws do matter in protecting workers rights. … So the fact there’s been these big wins, I think we should expect something like that in California,” said Ana Padilla, executive director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center.
Source: thebrunswicknews.com
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ianchrisgraham
Categories: New York, Business