Support brave farm workers demanding rights

Dear friend:

Many of us will come together this weekend to celebrate Labor Day. Gathering with family and friends, we’ll fire up the grill and lay out spreads of fruits and vegetables.

Yet, ironically, the workers who harvest the food we will eat lack basic labor rights in New York state.

Our 60,000 farmworkers drive a $6.36 billion industry, but because of a holdover Jim Crowe-era law, they cannot organize for better conditions.

So factory farm bosses intimidate them into working under shocking and inhumane conditions. Their risk of dying on the job is 20 times higher than the average worker and women farmworkers face one of the highest rates of sexual abuse across industries.

“They treat us like slaves and worse than the cows.” – Crispin Hernandez

“You are housed in deplorable conditions, sometimes with no heating in upstate New York winters.” – Antonio Salinas Guzman

“I have … suffered discrimination, racism and verbal abuse from my bosses.” – Jose Garcia

Despite the intimidation, some farmworkers have risked everything to take a stand. Tell the farmworkers you’re with them and thank them for speaking out.

Thanks to the Workers’ Center of Central New York and the Worker Justice Center of New York, the NYCLU is now suing the state for failing to protect farmworkers’ right to organize. This Labor Day, Crispin, Antonio, Jose, Dolores and the rest of the workers who have stood up to make our state a more just place deserve to know they are not alone and New Yorkers are grateful for their sacrifices.

Please add your name to the letter of solidarity we look forward to giving them.

Thank you for all you do,

Donna Lieberman
Executive Director
New York Civil Liberties Union