After Historic Union Wins, Farmworkers in New York Face Stiff Resistance to Organizing
Summary
Date Reported: 8 May 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Cahoon Farms - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Jamaica , Agriculture & livestock , Men , Documented migrants ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Mexico , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Freedom of Association , Freedom of Assembly , Right to Unionisation , Intimidation , DismissalResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
Action taken: Cahoon Farms did nor respond to journalists' request for comment.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 8 May 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
A&J Kirby Farms - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Mexico , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Jamaica , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Freedom of AssociationResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: The Resource Centre was not able to contact Kirby Farms to invite a response to the allegations; if a response is received in future this will be updated accordingly.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 8 May 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Lynn-Ette & Sons - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Mexico , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Jamaica , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Freedom of Association , Freedom of Assembly , Right to Unionisation , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Charges were filed by the United Farm Workers Union (an unfair labour practice charge).
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 8 May 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Wafler Farms - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Mexico - Sector unknown , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Jamaica , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Freedom of Association , Freedom of Assembly , Right to Unionisation , IntimidationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre
Action taken: Wafler Farms did not respond to the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
...After the Farm Laborers and Fair Labor Practices Act took effect in 2020, five apple and vegetable farms, including Cahoon, voted to unionize…
The new law, however, grants H-2A visa holders and undocumented laborers the right to unionize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing…
But the growers of the previously five unionized companies — Wafler Farms in Wolcott, Porpiglia Farms in Marlboro, Kirby Farms in Albion, Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms in Kent, and Cahoon Farms, where C.A. was recruited — have avoided negotiations with intimidation tactics, according to complaints filed by the UFW. The NYS Vegetable Growers Association and four of the five unionized farms, including Cahoon, also filed a lawsuit to prevent negotiations. Cahoon Farms did nor respond to a request for comment.
According to charges filed by the UFW at the Public Employment Relations Board of New York in 2023, owners of the Porpiglia Farms broke into workers living spaces without permission and physically intimidated a lone female union organizer … At Lynn-Ette & Sons Farms, an owner demanded an organizer to leave and threatened to have her arrested, while at Wafler Farms, an owner directed a profanity-laced rant at his workers caught on video last September…