Labor Day
By: Maggie Laubscher
Happy Labor Day, Nellies! This holiday brings to mind so many things for us. On its surface, it’s always been the marker of fall, of school, and of a long vacation weekend. But dig deeper and it represents much more. Labor Day is meant to honor the achievements of American workers. It’s meant to acknowledge the contributions of our workers and hold up a toast to them.
This Labor Day, we give attention to U.S. farmworkers - one of the most overlooked group of workers in our country. They pick and process fruits and vegetables for our pantries and fridges. They help us have fresh produce for every family dinner and lazy Sunday brunch. Their work is vital to our lives, yet they live and work on the outer edges of our society and are largely ignored.
More than 3 million farmworkers are estimated to be in the United States, according to National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH). About half of those people are undocumented, according to an article in The New York Times. Many are also uninsured, don’t get sick pay and don’t benefit from government aid. Farmworkers are excluded from many basic labor protections and are at risk of wage theft, sexual harassment and on-the-job injuries from heavy machinery. They often have substandard living and working conditions.
Then, the pandemic hit. Farmworkers were promptly marked as essential workers, which means they have been in fields working throughout the pandemic. Beyond just being exposed to Covid-19 because of this, farmworkers are also at higher risk for respiratory issues like bronchitis due to being around pesticides and heavy dust every day.
Gianna Nino, a Stanford medical student, had a tweet go viral when she showed the low pay of farmworkers. After taking a summer job picking blueberries, she wrote, "I'm about to finish up my time in the fields and wanted everyone to know that we (farmworkers) are paid $7 for two gallons of blueberries. How much do you pay for your blueberries?" She added that the next day, it would be 111 degrees Fahrenheit and they would still be out there, harvesting.
Some are trying to help, though the plight of farmworkers needs more attention. During the pandemic, a group of doctors in Ventura County, CA, visited local farmworkers to answer questions about Covid-19 and provide health exams. Reiter Brothers, which employs thousands of farmworkers as the largest producer of Driscoll’s and other berries in the world, has been lobbying Congress to pass a bill that would legalize immigrant farmworkers. The House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in fall 2019, which would help undocumented farmworkers gain permanent U.S. residence. However, the Senate has yet to take up the bill.
Work is being done, but more work is needed. Below are three ways to help U.S. farmworkers. A fourth way is to keep reading, learning and talking. We aim to do just that.
Happy Labor Day, Nellies. XO
Ways to Help
Farmworkers COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund - Justice for Migrant Women and Hispanics In Philanthropy joined together to create a nationwide relief fund for farmworkers. They are raising immediate funds to help keep farmworker families safe. Funds raised will go directly to farmworkers to help them buy groceries, diapers, medical supplies and pay rent, utilities and medical care expenses. The funds will also fund face masks for farmworkers. Donate here.
Oregon Farmworker Emergency Fund - PCUN, a Latino workers union in Oregon, started a farmworker emergency fund to support undocumented Oregon farmworkers affected by COVID-19. The group’s goal is to serve 100 undocumented farmworkers and their families with a one-time economic relief.
Masks for Farmworkers Campaign - Rural and Migrant Ministry of New York has created a face mask campaign to help get masks to farmworkers. Farmworkers need masks to safely do their work. Too many do not have access to masks and other basic protections in their workplace. If you can donate a mask, fill out this form.