Farm Workers Rights(26)

RESOLUTION 26: Farm Workers Rights

WHEREAS THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS (LULAC) supports the purpose of fostering and enlarging the opportunities for training, education, civil rights, job opportunities, housing, economic development, and welfare of all Hispanics in the United States; and,

WHEREAS, the average pay of farm workers is $8,000.00 annually, 20% below the income received 20 years ago, as confirmed in the New York Times edition of March 31, 1997, which reported the results of a U.S. Department of Agricultural Survey, and;

WHEREAS, Farm workers efforts to achieve a living wage from the Quincy mushroom growers and the Immokalee tomato grower are being vigorously resisted, and;

WHEREAS, Farm workers and their families continue to live in overcrowded homes and shelters unfit for human habitation with exorbitant rents, and;

WHEREAS, the United Methodist Church has asked its congregations to lobby for justice for Farm workers stating "Today we are called again to speak our and protest one of the great sins in this country. We seek justice for farm workers, we welcome farm workers into our congregations and our communities and we support their struggles for justice and human dignity", and;

WHEREAS, governmental support for farm workers diminished in the face of resistance from the affluent and powerful Agriculture industry ($6-8 billion annual income) whose campaign contributions and political connections make needed changes unlikely, and;

WHEREAS, LULAC commends the National Farm workers Ministry and the Methodist Church for their long struggle to win justice to Florida's farm workers, and;

WHEREAS, ongoing support from labor groups' common cause, Florida State Impact, The Florida NAACP and NOW, and other concern citizens make a promising development in support of farm workers, and;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 1998 National Assembly convened in Dallas, Texas on the 4th day of July, 1998, extends its arms to help our brothers, sisters, and children in the fields to fully support and advocate for decent housing, wages, health care and educational opportunities to farm workers in order to bring the continuing "Harvest of shame" to an end.

Approved this 4th day of July, 1998.

Rick Dovalina
LULAC National President