United Farm Workers

USDA's Equity Commission presented its 2023 Interim Report to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week.  The 37-page report and its findings are based on the personal experiences and expertise of its members, their collaborative and in-depth review of USDA's programs and practices, and stakeholder input.  Example...

A bipartisan group of House members is urging the Senate to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act as the end of the current Congress quickly approaches.  The House has already cleared the bipartisan legislation twice, but it continually gets held up in the Senate.  Idaho R...

A federal court in California issued a preliminary injunction against the Labor Department’s decision to freeze farm workers’ wages for those that use the H-2A Program. Fruit and Nut Grower News said the freeze would effectively lower the wages of several hundred thousand guest farm workers employed in the United States. A prelimi ...

On Monday, the Labor Department issued a final rule that updates the methodology for determining the annual Adverse Effect Wage Rates in the H-2A visa program. The Trump administration claims the new rule improves the consistency of the wage rates, provides stronger protections for workers, and establishes better stability and predictability for employers ...

Farmworker advocates are pleased the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a temporary restraining order and an injunction against the USDA decision to suspend the annual Farm Labor Survey. The Packer said unless the decision gets appealed, it means USDA has to conduct its Farm Labor Survey and issue its annual Farm Labor Report in November ...

Last week, United Farm Workers filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for suspending a farm labor survey. Last month, the USDA announced the intention to suspend the Agricultural Labor Survey. The Department of Ag claims the public can access other data sources for the data collected in the survey ...

On Wednesday, Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced legislation to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has put an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks and families. The Ranking Democrat on the Senate Ag Committee, said the Food Supply Protection Act will support food banks and non-profits to help increase their capacity and address growing demand ...

Several unions filed a lawsuit in Washington’s Skagit County Thursday, calling for the Washington Department of Health as well as the Department of Labor and Industries to immediately update the health and safety standards impacting farm workers. ...

United Farm Workers announced late last week the endorsement of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris for President.  The UFW said they are inspired by her vision of a just and inclusive America, as well as her personal story.  UFW leadership says they are also impressed by “the confidence and strength she has shown in the face of attacks from Donald Trump".   The UF...

Advocacy is a pressing issue for farmers in the 21st century.  Commodity groups, researchers and lawmakers will encourage farmers to tell their story before someone else, specifically those opposed to farming, shares it for them.  But, according to Stacey Cobb with the advocacy organization Eastern Washington Family Farmers, it’s not a lack of interests or willingness.  She said farm...