Justice for NY Farm Workers March

President Max Bruny speaking at the rally in Smithtown, New Yorkon May 15th in front of Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan’s Office to kick off the 18-day march.

Since May 15, 2016 the New York State Farm Workers have been marching 15 to 20 miles a day on their journey to Albany, NY to bring attention to the need for legislative action to end the inequality that currently burden farm workers in the state.

The passage of New Deal legislation the 1930’s excluded farm workers from its benefits. Seventy years have passed and in New York State Farm Workers still lack the rights to a day of rest, overtime pay and the right to bargain. Some of the successes of the Legislative Campaign for New York State Farm Workers have granted farm workers the right to clean drinking water, sanitation facilities in the fields and the right to the same minimum wage as other workers. Sadly exclusion of some of the most basis workers’ rights still remain. The Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, a bill currently in the NY State Legislature, would remove these exclusions and grant farm workers the dignity and equality they deserve.

From the very beginning of the Justice for New York State Farmworkers Campaign, farm workers and their advocates have sought to address policies and structures that deny farm workers and other rural workers equality, justice, and hope. The campaign has done this by accompanying workers as they seek to change the system, and by organizing and educating allies to stand with workers and their families – using our privilege and access in support of the workers.

UFCW Local 888 has proudly supported the legislative education and advocacy of the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign. Local 888 has traveled with the campaign during each day of their journey from Smithtown, NY to Albany, NY. Local 888 will continue to aide the Justice for Farmworkers Campaign in any way that we can to assure that New York State farm workers gain the same basic rights as every other worker.