Statement from New York Farm Bureau President Dean Norton on the farmworker
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
"The Senate Agriculture Committee carefully debated and considered the farmworker labor bill this winter and conclusively voted it down.
"Today, so-called farmworker advocates will publicly malign our industry with lies and smears in a job killing effort that aims to turn our local family owned farms into factories.
"A fair and open hearing demonstrated conclusively that sensationalist and unfounded claims by Kerry Kennedy and other corporate labor unions were groundless. Farms are subject to all of the basic justice protections as other workplaces, and even provide benefits like housing and transportation. This bill is a 20 year old concept that is outdated and presumes farm workers are not smart enough to make their own decisions.
"An honest assessment of how farmworkers are compensated and treated will show that our workers enjoy good wages, a highly regulated workplace and tremendous perks, such as free housing, free transportation and free child care.
"We will continue to defend the good reputation of our hardworking farm families and vigorously fight this farmworker labor bill, which would cripple our already struggling farming industry if it becomes law."
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New York Farm Bureau is the statewide lobbying/trade organization that represents thousands of member families. Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.
