Farmworker Unions: Status and Wage Impacts Philip L

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Farmworker unions: status and wage impacts Philip L. Martin 0 Suzanne Vaupel 0 Daniel Egan Effects on wages have been significant but limited

California's Agricultural Labor Rela- workers in 1982. Since Census statistics percent of the farm wage bill. A second tions Act was adopted in 1975 to provide count a worker twice if he or she works on measure of size - annual farm sales over organizing and bargaining rights for two farms, a better estimate of the actual $500,000 - indicates that 4,700 large farmworkers and to promote peace and number of farmworkers in California is farms paid 75 percent of the wage bill. stability in agriculture. After 10 years un- the 616,280 farmworker Social Security Finally, the 28,000 fruit, vegetable, and der the Act, seven unions represent 80,000 numbers in the state's unemployment in- horticulture farm employers paid over to 90,000 farmworkers sometime during surance files. Farmers reported that one- two-thirds of all farm wages, accounted the year on 400 farms. Unions have con- fifth of those hired were regular workers for 69 percent of the regular farm jobs, tracts covering about one-seventh of Cali- employed at least six months on one farm, and made up almost 60 percent of the fornia's farm jobs. and four-fifths were seasonal workers. farms that paid more than $50,000 in The largest fieldworker union - the Even though 40,000 California farms wages. United Farm Workers of America, AFL- hire workers, employment and wages are Farm employment data from the Cen- CIO (UFW) - has had significant but concentrated on the largest farms. The sus of Agriculture must be interpreted limited effects on farmworker wages. 5,800 large employers that paid at least carefully because of the changing defini- United Farm Workers wages rose more $50,000 to farmworkers in 1982 paid 85 tion of a farm. The large employers (those slowly than those of all farmworkers be- TABLE 1. California farmworker unions tween 1975 and 1979, but since 1980, UFW wage increases have increased twice as Number of fast as all farmworker wages. However, e Ie ct io ns Union Members' certified Commodities Contracts Jobst Regions UFW wage increases vary by commodity and area. Wages in vegetable crops in- UFW 60,000 342 Vegetables 22 5,800 Statewide Keene. CA 93531 70,000 Horticulture 36 3,270* creased almost 50 percent between 1980 Grapes and tree fruit 40 7.850 and 1984, compared with 25 to 35 percent Citrus 17 4,100 - ~ increases in nurseries, tree fruits, and cit- Total 115 21,0205 rus. Teamsters 890" 11,000 4 Lettuce and mixed 3 3,700 Salinas This article reviews the structure of 207 Sanborn Road vegetables farm employment in California and then Salinas CA 93901 examines wage trends since 1975. We Independent Union of 3,500 16 Mixed vegetables 11 1,200 Salinas have drawn data on farm employment Agricultural Workers Central Valley from the 1982 Census of Agriculture, on Box 5519 Imperial Valley farm wages from the US. Department of Salinas. CA 93905 Agriculture (USDA) Farm Labor employ- International Union of 3,600 32 Lettuce 28 1,400 Southern Coast er survey, and on union wages from the Agricultural Workers# Strawberries So. California 1206 W Cook Vegetables University of California, Davis, collection Santa Maria. CA 93454 of UFW contracts. This collection in- Fresh Fruit and 1.800 16 Lettuce coolers 16 1,200 Imperial Valley cludes about 250 contracts and appears to Vegetable Workers Vegetable and melon So California be the most complete agricultural con- Local 788" packing sheds tract information in the state. 471 Main Street El Centro. CA 92243 Farm employment Christian Labor 700 200 Dairy 200 700 Central Valley So. California The mainstay of California agriculture Association Local 17 is the commercial production of labor-in- 14997 Euclid Avenue tensive fruits and vegetables. The state Chino. CA 91710 produces 35 percent of the nation's fruits, Teamsters Local 63 250 35 Dairy 35 250 Chino vegetables, and specialty commodities, 1616 W 9th Street Central Valley which accounted for 72 percent of Califor- Los Angeles. CA 90015 nia crop sales in 1983. Total 80,100 645 408 29,450 - Half of California's 82,500 farms hire 90,100 workers, who do approximately 75 per- SOURCE The unions (from telephone interviews. after which we sent written confirmation) 'Members refers to total number of farmworkers employed on farms with union contracts Sometlme during the year cent of the state's farm work. California tJobs refers lo average employment on farms with union contracts farmers paid wages of $2.2 billion in 1982, $Includes nursery mushroom, and egg employees of which over 80 percent was paid to §Excludes cotton and grain contracts Another UFW document claims 151 active contracts covering 27 000 jobs and 161 certifications on farms with 29.000 lobs where no agreement has been reached workers hired directly and 18 percent to llWestern Conference of Teamsters (WCT) was certified in a number of additional elections but wlthdrew from them after farm labor contractors and their employ- the 1977 WCT/UFW pact #Formed by ex-Teamsters from Local 946 when the Teamsters agreed to refrain from organizing fieldworkers in 1977 ees. Farmers reported to the Census of "Locals 78A and 788 each have about 1,800 members, with perhaps half In lobs covered by the National Labor Relations Agriculture that they employed 810,000 Act (NLRA)

CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, JULY-AUGUST 1986 11 TABLE 2. Farm wage trends, 1975-85

Percent change Item 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1975-79 1976-79 1980-84

UNITED STATES ...... $ ...... % Private non-ag earnings’ 4 53 4 86 5 25 5.69 6.16 6.66 7 25 7.68 8.02 8 33 36.0 26.7 25 1 Farmt All workers 2.29 2.53 2 77 2.93 3.23 3.52 3 92 4.00 4.1 1 4 16 4.52 41 .O 27.7 18 2 Piece rate 2.68 2.94 3 12 3.38 3.75 4.04 5 09 4.74 4.52 4 60 5.61 39.9 27.6 13 9 Hourly 2.28 2.50 2 76 2.95 3.25 3.53 3 86 3.91 4.07 4 12 4.37 42.5 30.0 16 7 Fieldworkerst 2 14 2.37 2 56 2.74 3.05 3.36 3 78 3.83 3.91 3 93 4.53 42.5 28.7 17 0 CALIFORNIA Farmt All workers 2 80 3.08 3 50 3.61 3.87 4.35 4 70 4.89 4.85 5 16 5.575 38.2 25.6 18 6 Piece rate 3.22 3.55 4 40 4.68 5.14 4.59 6 43 6.20 6.20 6 79 6.925 59.6 44.8 47 9 Hourly 2.62 2.92 3 26 3.34 3.59 4.00 4 29 4.48 4.58 4 83 4.91 37.0 22.9 20 8 Fieldworkerst 2.59 2 88 3 20 3.28 3.60 4.01 4 37 4.69 4.58 4 88 5.31 39.0 25.0 21 7 UFW” AND AVERAGE# WAGES Statewide union average 2413.14” 5913 25 I0113.40 7713.68 8014.33 8614 77 5515.30 2915.45 21 15 85 1116.31 17.2 35 1 Mushrooms (Union) 213 35 213.58 313.92 414.21 314 51 315.10 115.78 116 00 116.30 42 5 Nurseries (U) 213.10 313 23 1413.37 1513.58 1113.97 1414 40 1114.79 1015.17 415 05 315.1 1 15.5 27 0 South Coast (U) 113.10 113 23 213.40 513.75 414.19 614 53 714.90 615.31 114 68 21 .o 11 7 Ventura County (Average) 2.48 2 80 3.00 3.20 3.45 3 68 4 25 4.25 29.0 23 2 Southern California (U) 513.28 413.39 413.58 414 10 214.52 214.89 215 32 115.68 48 6 Vegetables (U) 1413.10 21 13 20 3513.36 1713.43 2814.60 3215 04 2715.51 816.04 516 03 317.13 10.6 48 5 Central Coast (U) 613.10 613 25 913.39 1415.05 1615 46 1515.70 316.65 317 00 317.13 38 6 Monterey County (A)§ 3.03 3 48 3.48 3.08 4.20 5 75 5.68 6.03 6 33 6.33 28.1 50 7 South Coast (U) 213.10 313 23 513.39 513.64 314.05 415 05 515.50 114.50 115 00 17.4 23 5 Southern California (U) 113.10 813 15 1513.31 113.35 513.81 614 14 214.35 8.1 Citrus (U) 213.38 313.55 313.71 213 98 114.50 114.50 115 00 34 8 Southern California (U) 213.38 213.50 113.60 South Coast (U) 113.50 113.68 113 86 114.50 114.50 115 00 35 9 Santa Barbara (A)tt 3.25 3.25 3.38 3 93 3.93 4.50 4 55 4.73 34 6 Vineyards (U) 613.28 713 43 1913.53 613.73 1214.17 814 71 815.41 615.25 715 74 316.81 13.7 37 6 San Joaquin (U) 213.40 213 43 1213.45 913.66 613.93 514 24 314.47 414.89 415 08 7.6 29 3 Kern County (A) 2 65 2 08 3.50 3.50 3.30** 4 00 4.00 4.00 4 15tI 4.00 32.1 25 8 Tree fruits (U) 112.95 2513 22 2513.35 2313.88 2014.33 2214 65 115.05 115.30 215.71 115.95 31.5 31 9 Central Coast U) 1913 23 1913.35 1613.97 1514.40 1614 78 115.05 215.30 115.75 30 7 Santa Cruz (A)\ 5 2.88 3 10 3.20 3.83 4.50 4.84 5.13 4.50 5.00 5.00 33.0 11 1 ‘Economic Report of the President February 1985 U S Government Printing Office Washington D C p 276 tFarm Labor Crop Reporting Service u s Department 01 Agriculture various years *In 1975 1976 and 1977 this included field and livestock workers After 1977 it included only fieldworkers §Wages for lettuce preharvest IlThese are the wages for the general labor category Wages are those prevailing in July of each year #California Employment Development Department Form 881-A The form gives a range of wages the midpoint is printed here “Number of contracts and average wage e g in 1976 the 24 UFW contracts had an average wage of $3 17 lor general labor ttwages are the mldpoint 01 the range for lemon harvesting SSFresno County data in 1980 1984 §§Wages are the midpoint of the range for apple thinning paying $50,000 or more in farm wages) 1,200 jobs, and the International Union of cent in two years, from $3.43 in 1979 (4 who are likely to be counted in the Census, Agricultural Workers, based in Santa Ma- percent less than the average hourly wage however, are paying an increasing frac- ria, has 28 contracts covering 1,400 jobs. and 7 percent less than the average union tion of farm wages: the share they paid The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Workers wage) to $5.04 in 1981 (17 percent above increased from 76 to 85 percent between Union Local 78B, in the Imperial Valley, the average hourly wage and 6 percent 1974 and 1982,and similar increases were has 16 contracts, which cover both field- above the union average). Union wages in recorded for large farms (those with workers and packing shed workers. other commodities also increased - gen- $500,000 or more in annual gross sales), Union organizing and bargaining ac- eral laborer wages rose 26 percent in fruit and vegetable farms, and contract tivity has slowed since 1975-76. During vineyards and 23 percent in nurseries - labor farms. the first six months of the Act, the Agri- but the jump in vegetable wages explains With employment increasingly con- cultural Labor Relations Board conduct- much of the surge in piece-rate wages in centrated on the largest California farms, ed 430 elections and unions were certified California and in Monterey vegetable these are logically the major targets of in 96 percent of the valid elections. In wages. The union wage premium contin- union organizers. Since most of the large 1984-85,there were 31 elections; 16 have ued to increase after 1981, reaching 45 farm employers produce fruit, vegeta- been resolved, and unions were certified percent in vegetables in 1985, 39 percent bles, or horticultural specialties, farm- as bargaining agents in 8. Unions were in vineyards, 21 percent in tree fruits, and worker union activity has focused on such decertified on two farms, and expiring 4 percent in nurseries. farms. union contracts have not been renegotiat- Union wages have increased unevenly. ed at several other farms. In 1977,the average union wage in 59 con- Unions tracts for “general labor” was $3.25, and A telephone survey of farmworker un- Wages the range was $3.00 to $3.70.By 1985, the ions, which we conducted in 1984, indi- The UC Davis collection includes 250 average wage in 11 contracts was $6.31, cates that seven unions represent 80,000 union contracts signed after 1975. We and the range was $4.61 to $7.68. This in- to 90,000 farmworkers sometime during compared general laborer wages from creased variance could reflect a change the year (table 1). These unions had won each contract. The general farm laborer in union strategy and different levels of elections on 645 farms, resulting in 408 wage is usually the lowest offered farm- bargaining power. union contracts covering about 30,000 workers are guaranteed the general la- farm jobs. If the 80,000 to 90,000 union borer wage even if they work under a Conclusions members are compared with the total piece-rate wage system. About 10 percent of California’s 5,800 farm work force of 616,280, then about The number of contracts in the collec- major farm employers have been affect- one-seventh, or 14 percent, of California’s tion that included the general laborer ed directly by union activity since 1975. farmworkers are union members. The classification rose from 24 in 1976 to 101 After a decade of farmworker organizing 30,000 farm jobs can be similarly com- in 1978, and then fell to 86 in 1981, 29 in and bargaining under the Agricultural La- pared with the average 220,000 jobs for 1983, and 11 in 1985. UFW wages for gen- bor Relations Act, seven farmworker un- hired workers, also indicating that about eral farm labor increased from an aver- ions represent about 14 percent of Califor- one-seventh of the state’s farm jobs are age of $3.14 in 1976 to $6.31 in 1985 (table nia’s farmworkers. Union contracts on covered by union contracts. 2). There is no comparable state or feder- 400 farms cover about one-seventh of The United Farm Workers has the al wage series for general farm labor. California’s farm jobs. most members and the most farm jobs The USDA Farm Labor wages reported in Unions have had significant but limit- covered by union contracts, but the Chris- the top half of the table include union and ed effects on farm wages. The union wage tian Labor Association has almost twice nonunion workers and both skilled and un- premium for all commodities increased as many contracts. The Christian Labor skilled farmworkers, thus overstating the from roughly 8 percent in 1376 to 28 per- Association and Teamsters Local 63 have wages a typical general farmworker cent in 1985. Until 1979, union wages for 235 contracts with southern California could expect to earn. general laborers were relatively uniform dairies, and these dairy contracts, each Wage changes have been divided into across commodities and areas. A 1979 covering an average of four farm jobs, two periods: 1976-79 and 1980-84.During strike increased union wages in vegetable account for almost three-fifths of all the first period, all farm wages increased crops almost 50 percent in two years. By union contracts. faster than most union wages, and during 1985, the average union vegetable wage The United Farm Workers has two- the second period, union wages generally of $7.13 was 45 percent above the thirds of the 173 fieldworker contracts rose faster than all farm wages. statewide average hourly wage and 13 throughout the state. The union is divided California farm wages increased at percent higher than the average hourly into four commodity divisions and report- about the same rate as U.S. farm wages wage in United Farm Worker contracts ed in 1984 that it had 40 contracts in between 1976 and 1985; they were 22 per- for general laborers, reflecting union grapes and tree fruits, 36 in horticultural cent higher than U.S. farm wages in 1976 strategy and bargaining strength. specialties such as nurseries and mush- and 23 percent higher in 1985. The Cali- These wage comparisons must be in- rooms, 22 in vegetables, and 17 in citrus. fornia premium for piece-rate wages was terpreted with caution. First, some union Its reported contracts include farms with 21 percent in 1976 and 23 percent in 1985 contracts were omitted (there is no com- a decertification vote or expired con- but had decreased to 14 percent in 1980. plete collection of union contracts). Sec- tracts, if the union alleges improper vo- If the United Farm Worker general la- ond, fringe benefits were not included in ting or unlawful bargaining, as per the borer wage is compared with those of these comparisons. Finally, it is difficult Agricultural Labor Relations Act. California’s hourly farmworkers, the to determine if nonunion wages were in- Teamsters Local 890 has three Sali- union wage premium was 8 percent in creased because farm employers feared nas-area contracts, of which the major 1976 and 1980 and then jumped to 28 per- union activity. contract is with Bud Antle. The Salinas- cent in 1985. Union wages jumped in 1979- Philip L. Martin is Professor, Suzanne Vaupel is Vis- itine Aericultural Economist and an attornev. and based Independent Union of Agricultural 80 after a lengthy strike in vegetable DaGel Rgan is a student, Department of Agricultur- Workers has 11 contracts covering about crops. Union vegetable wages rose 47 per- al Economics, University of California, Davis.

CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE, JULY-AUGUST 1986 13