(HR-4)
The Friends Committee on Legislation strongly affirms the value of
all who make up the various links in the food process. We recognize
that of God in everyone; however, we feel compelled to single out the
farm worker as an often neglected, even abused, human link in the food.
We support legislation which seeks to give agricultural workers due
process. we support, legislation which will give agricultural
workers parity with other workers, while emphasizing that the unique
circumstances of agricultural employment require special protections.
Growers and food packers are constrained by competitive market
conditions, including sharply differing labor costs in developing
countries such as Mexico, and may believe their survival requires
illegal hiring practices, low wages, exposure to deadly pesticides,
disregard of protective health measures, unfair overtime or the use of
child labor. These abuses are unacceptable.
Therefore, we support legislation which provides protection for
farmworkers including:
(1) the appointment of farm worker representation on the
Agricultural Labor Relations Board, as well as the provision of adequate
staff to enforce the Board's functions in a vigorous manner;
(2) full support of democratic, non-violent farm worker union
activity;
(3) protection of workers hired through labor contractors to
assure
that the workers are not isolated from protections they would have if
working directly for growers;
(4) safe and humane working conditions including protection of farm
workers and their families from hazards of the work place by eliminating
avoidable hazards, including unsafe pesticide exposure, and by providing
worker's compensation insurance coverage to protect workers from
unavoidable hazards;
(5) access to health care, which must include portability of
benefits;
(6) availability of publicly and privately financed affordable
housing that meets health and safety standards, including during times
of involuntary unemployment;
(7) access to education that compensates for the family mobility
that agricultural work often requires; and
(8) no use of "guest worker" (i.e., bracero) programs.
We oppose any actions which would diminish the rights California
agricultural workers currently have under the law.
Approved by Southern Regional Committee on October 17, 1996
Approved by Northern Regional Committee on November 8, 1996
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