News on Labor
Bus Tour Success
Sept. 2011 The Santa Barbara Ag Futures Alliance (SBAFA) has now completed parts 1-3 of the four-part Farm to Fork series aimed at raising awareness countywide about local agricultural resources. SBAFA’s latest excursion took them to Betteravia Farms’ large cooling and storage warehouse, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Los Adobes de Maria farmworker housing complex, and one of the nation’s largest greenhouse operations, Windset Farms, all in the city of Santa Maria. Over 30 participants attended the September bus tour, including a staff member for Congresswoman Lois Capps and two representatives of the local County Board of Supervisors. All participants walked away with a broader understanding of some of the farming and farm related practices taking place in their own backyards. A photo slide show of the event can be seen on Facebook.
Utah Legislature Passes Immigration Legislation
Mar. 2011 In the past week, Utah’s legislature has passed three immigration-related bills, two of which attempt to establish guestworker programs and one of which is an enforcement bill similar to Arizona’s law. Utah Governor Gary Herbert has not yet signed the measures but is expected to do so.
Read More »Major Breakthrough for Florida Tomato Pickers
Jan. 2011 Many Florida tomato pickers will now receive significant wage increases as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers extends their corporate social responsibility program in Florida. On January 18, the New York Times covered this story: After Long Fight, Farmworkers in Florida Win an Increase in Pay.
Governor signs AB 702 and SB 454
Sept. 2010 The Governor recently signed two bills sponsored by the California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH). AB 702 conforms the federal and state definitions of a farm worker for purposes of receiving federal and state housing assistance, and will make it much easier for agricultural employees to move between field work and processing work off the farm without losing their housing. It will also be easier for the nonprofit and public operators of this housing to retain their residents. SB 454 extends the state’s tenant notification law for residents living in subsidized rental housing with terminating or expiring subsidies. The law requires that owners serve notice and provide specified information of an impending loss or change in subsidy to tenants, state and local officials, and buyers interested in preserving the affordability. It was scheduled to sunset at the end of the 2010, but in exchange for a few small tweaks limiting financial disclosures by owners to prospective buyers, CCRH removed the current sunset and has permanently enshrined the bill.