Farm Labor
On July 19, 2019, then New York State Governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed the Farm Workers Bill, which established the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act to protect farm worker rights and ensure equitable housing and working conditions. The bill grants farm workers overtime pay, a day of rest each week, disability and Paid Family Leave coverage, unemployment benefits and other labor protections. The bill took effect on January 1, 2020.
Find links to USDA Agricultural Workforce data and New York State and City labor and immigration resources below.
Farm Labor, National Statistics
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tracks the Size and Composition of the Nation's Agricultural Workforce
The majority of the US’s farm workers are foreign born, many of whom are undocumented. An increasing number are settling, fewer are following the crops. The overall number of farm workers decreased drastically from the 1950s, with an especially great loss of family farm workers. Farm wages are about 60% of non-farm wages.
Farm Labor, National Resources
United Farm Workers (UFA)
Begun in the early 1960s by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and other organizers, the United Farm Workers of America is the nation’s first enduring and largest farm workers’ union. The UFW continues its activism in major agricultural sectors, chiefly in California. UFW contract agreements protect thousands of vegetable, berry, winery, tomato, and dairy workers in California, Oregon, and Washington state.
Farmworker Justice
An estimated 2.4 million farmworkers work on farms and ranches in the United States. The large majority of farmworkers are immigrants, and approximately 36% lack authorized work status under current U.S. laws. Farmworkers, their families, and communities face serious challenges every day. Farmworker Justice is a national voice in the fight against farmworker abuse, poverty, and health risks.
Farmworkers Support Committee
CATA – The Farmworkers Support Committee is a non-profit organization founded by migrant farmworkers in New Jersey in 1979. CATA is a grassroots, membership-based organization working with farmworkers and the Latino immigrant community in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. CATA’s work focuses on workers’ rights, health and safety in the workplace, immigrant’s rights, and food justice.
National Farm Worker Ministry
NFWM works side by side with farm workers and their organizing groups throughout the country, to organize vigils, picket, coordinate boycotts and educate constituents, acting with farmworkers to achieve fundamental change in their living and working conditions.
Farmworker Health Network
The Farmworker Health Network (FHN) is composed of six National Training and Technical Assistance Partners (NTTAPs) that focus on Migratory and Seasonal Agricultural Worker (MSAW) health and provide coordinated training and technical assistance to health centers that serve this special population.
Farm Labor, New York Resources
NYS Department of Labor: Agriculture Labor Program
Providing agricultural employers and workers access to services that can help them become successful.
NYS Department of Labor: Services for Agricultural Workers
Looking for a job working on a farm? We produce an electronic job bulletin.
NYS Department of Labor: Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act
Read the “Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act” here, in English and Spanish. Want to download the FAQs page about the new law?
Cornell University: For Farmworkers and Farmers
Dedicated to improving the living and working conditions of farmworkers and their families.
Worker Justice Center of New York
Legal service organization serving farmworkers in NYS.
Immigration Resources
NYC Gov: Know Your Rights with ICE
If approached by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents, you have rights!
New York City Council: Resources for our immigrant communities
Most City services, like attending school or using the health care system, are available to everyone, regardless of your immigration status. City employees will not ask about your immigration status unless it’s necessary for the service you’re receiving. They’re also required to keep that information confidential.
Documented: Guide of Resources for Immigrants
Documented is a non-profit news site devoted solely to covering New York City’s immigrants and the policies that affect their lives. Here is a link to their “Guide of Resources for Immigrants.”
Informed Immigrant
Our name, Informed Immigrant, directly evokes our deep hope and ambitious mission of providing all undocumented immigrants with the knowledge and resources they need to feel prepared in our unpredictable political and enforcement environment.
En Español
Centro de Justicia Laboral de Nueva York: Protecciones legales para trabajadores agricolas
A partir de enero, 2020 la nueva Ley de Prácticas Laborales Justice para Trabajadores Agrícolas del Estado entró en vigor, que extiende varias nuevas protecciones a los trabajadores agrícolas en el estado de Nueva York, incluyendo el derecho a un día de descanso, el pago de horas extras, y el derecho de organizarse.
NYS Ley Prácticas Laborales Justas para Trabajadores Agrícolas FAQs
La propuesta de ley, firmada el 17 de julio de 2019 por el gobernador Andrew Cuomo, establece que le Ley Prácticas Laborales Justas para Trabajadores Agrícolas proteja los derechos del trabajador agrícola y que las condiciones de trabajo y vivienda sean seguras. La ley, concede a los trabajadores agrícolas pago por horas extras, un día de descanso cada semana, cobertura por discapacidad y Permiso Familiar Pagado, beneficios por desempleo y otras protecciones laborales. La ley también requiere
que el Comisionado del Departamento de Trabajo convoque una Comisión de Salario.
NYC Gov: Conozca sus derechos ante ICE
Si se le acercan agentes de ICE (Inmigración y Control de Aduanas), ¡usted tiene derechos!
Documented: Guía con información y ayudas relevantes para inmigrantes de Nueva York
Documented centralizará en este sitio todo el contenido que publique con recursos para inmigrantes útiles y que incluyan a la comunidad indocumentada. Con el tiempo, se agregarán nuevos recursos y se actualizará constantemente las siguientes páginas.
Immigrante informade
Nuestro nombre, Inmigrante informado, evoca en forma directa nuestra profunda esperanza y misión ambiciosa de brindar a todos los inmigrantes indocumentados el conocimiento y los recursos que necesitan para sentirse preparados en este entorno político y de seguridad tan impredecible.