In all my years as a legislator, I’m still struck, although not at all surprised, by the disregard New York City politicians have for Upstate New York, especially here in our agricultural communities. Their continued push for the so-called Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act is little more than an effort to unionize farmworkers, who don’t need it or want it.
Over and over, during a recent debate on this bill, the sponsor revealed her limited understanding of our agricultural industry and its labor conditions. Although the bill ultimately passed, I joined with virtually every one of my Assembly Minority colleagues to defend our dairy industry in voting no. The sponsor had no idea that nationally New York is 27th in agricultural production and second in farm labor costs. On average, New York’s farm laborers are earning well above the minimum wage. Additionally, the sponsor evaded answering whether or not she has ever been on a farm, which is an important question, as she introduces this legislation year after year.
Personally, I think that someone who has never even been on a farm and chooses to ignore reports from Cornell University and the New York State Departments of Labor and Health that laud New York’s farm working conditions shouldn’t be touching agricultural labor policy at all. New York’s labor laws already ensure exceptional working and living conditions for our agricultural laborers. The Cornell study showed that workers had few concerns about working conditions, and were looking for opportunities to work as many hours as possible and to learn English, further their education and increase their access to health care, all of which our agricultural communities and the state have been working cooperatively to improve.
Farm laborers in New York know they can earn a good living here due to good working conditions and the short but intense farming season. The kind of collective bargaining outlined by the New York City farm bill would threaten their work opportunities and cost farmers millions due to lost production and crops. We mustn’t allow New York City politicians to force union-style negotiations on them during the planting season, the harvest and other important production times.
Doing business in New York already is difficult enough. Family farms are on the decline with the majority of them operating at a loss, with the net loss averaging about $18,000. If this bill becomes law, these small farms will suffer and possibly shut down for good. Our state’s farmers already are struggling to keep up with national and international competition; this bill would further weaken their competitive edge and hinder growth in emerging agricultural markets. In fact, these New York City politicians would end up killing the very industry these folks rely on for their livelihoods. This resulting devastation on our farms would be felt by all, causing the cost of groceries to increase, putting more pressure on already strapped middle-class families.
Who is this Farmworkers Fair Labor bill really meant to serve? Is it fair to the workers? Is it fair to the farmers? Is it fair to the communities that rely on local farms as employers? I think you and I know that this bill is hardly fair.
If you have any questions or comments about agriculture or economic policy, please e-mail me at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us or call my Herkimer office at (315) 866-1632 or my Johnstown office at (518) 762-6486.