Supporters of farmworker rights rally in Metzger’s hometown

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ROSENDALE – Local advocates for migrant farmworker rights rallied Wednesday evening in the Town of Rosendale, lobbying for the approval of the Farm Worker Fair Labor Practices Act.

Rosendale is the hometown of Senator Jennifer Metzger (D-42) who also heads the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Executive Director of the Rural and Migrant Ministry, Richard Witt, said although there has been an outcry for migrant farmworker rights for some time, state legislators have made the status of legislative reform uncertain.

Witt said migrant workers are still dealing with issues such as no wage protection, no established days of rest, no unionization, no choice of hours and even claims they are subject to sexual abuse. He maintains these workers are not being treated fairly under current legislation.

“They want to be treated equally and they want to be treated with dignity,” said Witt. “If we can achieve equality and dignity, then we all can work toward a better agricultural system in New York.”

Ruth Faircloth, a local who comes from a family of migrant farm workers, said farm workers within the state are subject to harsh conditions, with little protections and that it is time they were treated the same as workers within other industries.

“I think it’s wrong,” said Faircloth. “I just think that what we’re asking for is something so simple. Why can’t a farmworker just have all of the equal rights as everyone else.”

The Rural and Migrant Ministry is hopeful their efforts will have positive results before lawmakers adjourn later this month.




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