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US Farmworkers United States Farmworker Factsheet Farmworkers are some of our nation’s most vital workers, as their labor enables us to enjoy high quality, low-cost, fresh fruits and vegetables all year round. Despite farmworkers’ economic and cultural contributions to the communities where they live and work, they continue to be the some of the lowest paid, least protected, and unhealthiest workers in the United States. Overview Farmworkers “Agricultural of Farm Work Demographics Exceptionalism” Agricultural labor includes planting, There are two to three million Farmworkers were excluded from cultivating, harvesting and preparing farmworkers in the United States.2 nearly all of the major federal labor crops for market or storage.1 laws passed in the 1930s. Some of the The states with the highest laws have been amended to include Migrant farmworkers travel from farmworker population are California, workers on large farms, but exemptions place to place to work in agriculture Texas, Washington, Florida, Oregon, remain in the following laws: and move into temporary housing and North Carolina.3 while working; seasonal farmworkers Labor organizing: Farmworkers were work primarily in agriculture, but live Nearly 80% of farmworkers are male, excluded from the National Labor in one community year-round.1 and most are younger than 31.4 Relations Act of 1935, which protects workers acting collectively to form Farmworkers are usually employed by Most farmworkers are married and/or unions. farm owners or by “crew leaders,” have children; yet almost six out of Minimum wage: The Fair Labor who serve as intermediaries between ten farmworkers live apart from their Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) originally growers and workers. 4 immediate family members. excluded all farmworkers, and was amended in 1978 to mandate minimum The H2A program allows foreign Of farmworkers in the United States, wage for workers on large farms only. “guestworkers” to perform seasonal 75% were born in Mexico.4 farm work under a temporary work Overtime pay: The FLSA has never visa designed for agricultural workers According to a 2005 survey, 53% of been amended to provide overtime for in the United States. farmworkers are undocumented farmworkers, and only a few states (without legal authorization), 25% are have passed laws requiring it. United States citizens, and 21% are legal permanent residents.4 Child labor laws: The FLSA sets 12 as “Every time we sit at a the minimum age for farm work, not 16 Immigrant farmworkers as in other jobs. table to enjoy the fruits often leave their home countries to seek a and grain and vegetables better life for their from our good earth, families. Immigration to the United States has remember that they increased notably since the 1994 signing of come from the work of NAFTA,5 a free trade men and women and agreement that has driven over two million children who have Mexican farmers out of been exploited for business.6 generations.” Cesar Chavez, Co-Founder, United Farm Workers Economic Profile Health Profile Farmworkers Organizing Low wages: Farmworkers’ average Dangerous work: Agriculture is For Change annual income is $11,000; for a consistently ranked as one of the Across the country, farmworkers 4 family it is approximately $16,000. three most dangerous occupations in are organizing for justice and 11 This makes farm work the second the United States. empowerment to improve their lowest paid job in the nation (after conditions. Some organizations leading 7 Pesticide risks: Farmworkers suffer domestic labor). from the highest rate of toxic this work include: Piece-rate pay: Farmworkers are often chemical injuries and skin disorders of Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW): any workers in the country,12 as well paid by the bucket; in some states 11 a community-based organization in they earn as little as 40¢ for a bucket as significant rates of eye injuries. Southwest Florida that won a boycott of tomatoes or sweet potatoes. At Health concerns: Farmworkers against Taco Bell in 2005 that aimed to that rate, farmworkers have to pick face higher incidences than other improve wages and working conditions around two tons of produce wage-earners of heat stress, of tomato pickers. www.ciw-online.org 8 (125 buckets) to earn $50. dermatitis, urinary tract infections, Farm Labor Organizing Committee parasitic infections, and tuberculosis.11 Few social benefits: Despite their (FLOC): a labor union in Ohio and poverty, most farmworkers are not Poor health of children: Children of North Carolina that pioneered eligible for social services. Less than migrant farmworkers have higher three-way labor agreements between one percent of all farmworkers use rates of pesticide exposure, workers, growers and corporate food general assistance welfare, only two malnutrition and dental disease than processors. In September 2004, FLOC won an historic contract with the Mt. percent use social security, and fewer the general population. Children of Olive Pickle Company and the NC than 15% are Medicaid recipients.4 migrant farmworkers are also less likely to be fully immunized than Growers Association. www.floc.com 11 other children. Treeplanters & Farmworkers United of Housing effects: Poor migrant the Northwest (PCUN): Oregon’s housing conditions lead to increased union for farmworkers, nursery, and prevalence of lead poisoning, reforestation workers, whose goal is to respiratory illnesses, ear infections empower farmworkers to understand and diarrhea.11 and take action against systematic exploitation. www.pcun.org Education Profile Limited insurance: Only ten percent of farmworkers report having United Farm Workers (UFW): founded Low education levels: The median employer-provided health insurance.4 by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. highest grade of school completed by The UFW brought national attention to farmworkers is sixth grade. Thirteen Obstacles to health care: Barriers to the farmworker cause in the 1960s and percent of farmworkers have complet- receiving health care include lack of has since won union contracts in states ed less than three years of schooling, transportation, limited hours of clinic across the country. www.ufw.org and 13% have completed high school.4 service, cost of health care, limited or no interpreter service, and frequent Children in the fields: By the time relocation in search of farm work. a migrant child is 12, he/she may Farmworkers are not protected by sick work in the fields between 16-18 leave and risk losing their jobs if they hours per week,9 leaving little time for miss work.11 school work. Unstable schooling: The average migrant child may attend as many as three different schools in one year. For many children it takes roughly three GET INVOLVED! years to advance one grade level.8 Contact one of these national support organizations High drop-out rates: A 1994 study linking the broader community with farmworkers: showed that 60% of migrant students in the United States drop out of National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM): www.nfwm.org school (down from 90% reported in the 1970s).10 Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF): www.saf-unite.org Sources: 1 Public Law 104-299, 1996; 2 Report of the Commission on Agricultural Workers, 1992; 3 Larson, A. Farmworker Enumeration Study, 2000; 4 National Agricultural Workers Survey, US Dept. of Labor, 2005; 5 Hemispheric Social Alliance, 2003; 6 Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, 2003; 7 Rural America, 2002; 8 US Dept. of Labor, Prevailing Wage Surveys (NC), 2002; 9 Migration Education Messages and Outlook (MEMO), 1994; 10 Education Resources Information Center, 1998; 11 National Center for Farmworker Health; 12 Natl. Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, 2004; 13 Olivieri, VJ. U.S. Dept. of Ag., 1993; Agricultural Council of America & Lilly, P. NC State University, n.d. Full citations available at www.ncfarmworkers.org. Published by the NC Farmworker Institute with funds from the Office of Rural Health and Community Care, NC Farmworker Health Program, 2007.
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