Agricultural Labor & Immigration Issues

1. Agricultural Labor & Immigration Issues

2. California’s First Laborers • 64,500 Native California Indians • Spanish Colonists – 21 California Missions from San Diego to Sonoma Natives died from disease The effects of slavery and prejudice. • 1883-23,000 Indians remaining

3. The Chinese • California Gold Rush-Foreign Miner’s Tax • Independent miners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and artisans • Transcontinental Railroad-Sierra Nevada • The Delta water system • Establishment of orchard crops • Tongs-an attempt at organized labor • 1883-Chinese immigration halted

4. The Japanese • Issei and Nisei-hard workers • Strawberries-leased land, wanted to own land • California’s Alien Land Law of 1913, 3 yr. limit on leasing then no leasing • Immigration stopped in 1924 • Pearl Harbor-camps and deportation • 1944-camps closed-allowed to go back to Japan but 57,000 stayed • Local stories….

5. Mexican Labor • World War I-workers from India & Pakistan • Prior to WWI, Mexican workers joined the labor force but were stopped by Civil War in Mexico • 1917-1st Bracero program-many problems so halted in 1921 but Mexicans continued to cross the border

6. The Great Depression • Mexicans sent home • 285,000 “Okies” and “Arkies” escape the Dust Bowl hoping to establish family farms • “Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck • World War II-workers to army and industry • Bracero agreements

7. How Did California Agriculture Labor Become Different From The Rest of the United States? • Wheat fields were replaced by orchards, vineyards, vegetable production all require hand harvest. • Farm labor workforce-relatively unskilled, seasonal laborers willing to work for low wages in short, intermittent bursts, follow the harvest. • Proximity to Mexico for seasonal labor needs • Landowners increase their use of immigrant workers as irrigation was perfected –turbine pump in the 1920’s • Laborers were transient and totally dependent on available work leading to chronic poverty

8. Today’s Farm Worker 1/3 jobs are in crop harvest 82% are men 61% are married 9/10 work in fruit, nuts, and vegetables Average 6 years of education Average age is 33 Most expect to remain in farm work 56% have children 3/10 are employed by Farm Labor Contractors <10% speak or read English fluently 8/10 hold 2 or more farm jobs in a 1 year period

9. Economic Significance of Farm Workers • United States: 749,000 workers Average wage of $8.73/hour Work an average of 36.8 hours per week • California: 128,000 workers Average wage $9.95/hr. Work an average of 39.9 hours per week • San Joaquin Region: 50,900 workers

10. Farm Labor vs. Non-Farm Labor • Industry earnings: $9.27 in textile mills to $20.44 in primary metal manufacturing

11. Employers Farm labor is extremely important! Labor intensive, strenuous work raises labor costs and makes it difficult to find workers Cost of labor is 20% to 40% of production costs Farm Laborers $8 to $10 an hour versus $14 to $15 per hour in industry Strenuous work in all types of weather Chronic labor shortage Can’t be hired from the unemployment lines…. Many people refuse to work in ag labor. Only 12% speak English, 85% have not finished high school The IssuesWages

12. Farmers 1/3 of agriculture workers receive piece rate pay Examples? Advantage to employer- faster workers make more money Minimum standards are set and enforced May result in lower quality work Workers Experienced workers make more money Can lead to more injuries as workers increase their pace. Ladder injuries Piece Rate VersusHourly Rate

13. U.S. Government Bracero Program-1942 to 1964-fairly successful immigration program. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986-onus on employers-noncompliance equals fines and jail time 1985-86-unauthorized persons allowed to apply for immigrant status Current issue – employers are responsible for proving their employees are legal. Immigrants Poverty caused by fear of returning to Mexico and not being allowed back into the U.S. Reforms thought to improve wages and benefits through a legal workforce might result in legal workers moving to industry and an increase in illegal immigration Illegal workers now make up 50% of the immigrant workforce Agriculture Construction Hospitality Immigration Issues

14. Farmers Don’t have to deal directly with the workers Can overcome language barriers Ample supply of workers when needed Training provided by contractor All paperwork completed by contractor – workman’s compensation, payroll, taxes and deductions. Workers Recruiters responsible to train new workers Exploitation-contractors make money off other services-banking, food, lodging, transportation No written contracts-labor law violations Day-haul labor markets Transportation issues Farm Labor Contractors

15. Housing • 800,000 people hired to work on California farms yearly • There are 2,100 family housing units in 26 centers and each houses fewer than two workers • An additional 1,044 centers will house five or more workers leaving the remaining workers to find housing from private sources – big problem in some areas (Napa, Sonoma) • Government agencies; subsidized housing through government grants and loans • 13% on employer provided housing, 37% live with family members, 50% pay an average of $238/mo. rent

16. Other Farm Worker Issues • Less than 1/3 of workers have CA driver’s licenses • 70% pay an average of $5 per day for transportation to work • 97% say they pay for their own tools even though the employer is required to pay • Lack of health care

17. More Farm Worker Issues • Technology has reduced available jobs • Training needed in semiskilled and skilled tasks • Farm workers are at risk for pesticide exposure

18. Changes in Farm Labor Regulations • Sanitation • Farmers must provide restrooms within a reasonable walking distance. • Female workers must have their own restroom facilites. • Hand washing water and soap must be available. • Pesticide Training • Farm workers handling and applying pesticides must have specific training in their native language. • Appropriate protective equipment must be provided by the employer (goggles, disposeable clothes, gloves etc.) • Working Conditions • Employer must provide water and appropriate breaks especially in extreme weather.

19. Laws & Regulations • U.S. Dept. of Labor-Employer must provide Wages, Workers Compensation & Social Security • U.S. Code-Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act • USDA Labor Affairs-immigration, H-2A Temporary Agricultural Worker Program, Worker Protection Standards for pesticide use, agricultural labor supply, and farm worker employment

20. Laws & Regulations • Targeted Industries Partnership Program (1992) requires state and federal agencies to inspect sanitary facilities • U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service-employment eligibility verification I-9 form • California Labor Code-Wages, Hours and Working Conditions; Agricultural Labor Relations; Farm Labor Contractors; Workers' Compensation • Agricultural Labor Relations Board

21. Early Organized Labor • Early attempts at organized labor met with “threats of deportation, widespread arrests, strikebreakers and violence • Strikes in 1930, 32 and 33-Agriculture Workers Union-higher wages • National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) formed in 1962 by Cesar Chavez which later became the United Farm Workers of America.

22. Based in Delano, California Originally chartered in 1966 as the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Chavez- president-firm believer in peaceful demonstration and negotiation Joined Filipino grape pickers in 1965-nationwide boycott of California table grapes-higher wages 1966-march on Sacramento-70 workers led by Chavez-grew to 10,000 as they approached the state capitol United Farm Workers of America

23. 1968-Grape boycott worldwide-$25 million lawsuit by 100 grape growers and shippers against Chavez and the UFW • 1970-grape workers reach contract agreements-lettuce boycott begins • 1973-United Farm Workers of America-60,000 farm workers-new round of boycotts for grape growers • 1988-Chavez fasts for 36 days to protest pesticide use. • 1990-Chavez negotiates an agreement with the Mexican government- Mexican farm workers in the U.S. can provide medical benefits to their families in Mexico • Chavez-receives Aguila Azteca, highest Mexican civilian award • Cesar Chavez dies of natural causes on April 23, 1993 in San Luis, Arizona • Chavez receives the U.S. Medal of Freedom from Pres. Clinton in 1994 Cesar Chavez Day-March 31st • http://www.pbs.org/itvs/fightfields/cesarchavez.html

24. Comparison of Agricultural Wages around the world: • Mexico – farm labor makes 50-60 pesos per day (about $5) • El Salvador – • Chile – • China – • America - $80-100 per day….

25. California Ag Labor • Remember California has some of the most stringent employer requirements and one of the highest minimum wages in the USA. • Workers are required to receive pesticide training, regular breaks and sanitary working conditions. • These conditions and precautions don’t exist in many countries that the USA imports food from – remember to support LOCAL agriculture! • “Fair Trade” commodities??