12 Questions
What challenges do farmers face due to changes in immigration policies?
Difficulty in finding workers, resulting in crops rotting in fields
What dangers do farm workers face in their working conditions?
High rates of fatal on-the-job injuries, exposure to extreme heat, dangerous machinery, poor air quality, and pesticides
Who are among the lowest-paid workers despite being deemed essential during the pandemic?
Farm workers
What historical roots of exploitation exist in American farm work?
Historically excluded from basic labor protections, even child labor laws
What incident involving Travis Schoenborn at EDS Schoenborn Orchard highlights abusive behavior by farm owners?
Using offensive and derogatory language towards a worker
What age group is legally allowed to work in agriculture for unlimited hours in hazardous conditions?
Children as young as 12
What challenges do California face in enforcing labor laws in agriculture?
Severe understaffing issue in monitoring workplace safety
What is the purpose of the H-2A Visa program for migrant workers?
To legally enter the U.S. for agricultural work
What living conditions have H-2A workers reported?
Substandard conditions like old houses with no heating and overcrowded, dirty trailers
How did the Coalition of Immokalee Workers improve conditions for tomato field workers in Florida?
Through campaigns targeting big-name buyers like Taco Bell and Walmart
What fear often prevents agricultural workers, including migrant workers, from reporting abuse or harassment?
Fear of consequences
What has been documented in cases of extreme exploitation and abuse of H-2A workers?
Being sold to others
Study Notes
- Farming is a crucial industry involving not just agriculture and animal husbandry, but also reliance on foreign-born, undocumented workers for labor-intensive tasks like harvesting.
- Majority of hired farm laborers in the US are foreign-born, with many being undocumented, leading to challenges and exploitation in the industry.
- Changes in immigration policies have made it difficult for farmers to find workers, resulting in crops rotting in fields and extreme measures like giving away produce due to labor shortages.
- Farm workers, deemed essential during the pandemic, are among the lowest-paid and work in dangerous conditions, highlighted by incidents like toiling near wildfires.
- The history of farm work in America is rooted in exploitation, with farm workers historically excluded from basic labor protections, even child labor laws.
- Children as young as 12 are legally allowed to work in agriculture for unlimited hours in hazardous conditions, exposing them to dangers at a young age.
- Farm workers face high rates of fatal on-the-job injuries, along with exposure to extreme heat, dangerous machinery, poor air quality, and pesticides, emphasizing the need for improved protections and rights in the industry.- Farm owners can be abusive employers, as shown in a specific incident involving Travis Schoenborn at EDS Schoenborn Orchard.
- Travis Schoenborn, the son of farm owners David and Valerie Schoenborn, was recorded using offensive and derogatory language towards a worker.
- When confronted with the video of the incident, the Schoenborns blamed the migrant worker and did not offer a direct apology.
- Enforcement of labor laws in agriculture can be challenging, with California having a severe understaffing issue in monitoring workplace safety.
- Some farms use "farm labor contractors" to hire workers, leading to violations of federal employment laws.
- Agricultural workers, including migrant workers, often face reluctance to report abuse or harassment due to fear of consequences.
- The H-2A Visa program was created to allow migrant workers to legally enter the U.S. for agricultural work, but it has shortcomings like tying workers to employers.
- H-2A workers have reported substandard living conditions, such as old houses with no heating and overcrowded, dirty trailers.
- Cases of extreme exploitation and abuse of H-2A workers, including being sold to others, have been documented, leading to comparisons to modern-day slavery.
- The Coalition of Immokalee Workers successfully improved conditions for tomato field workers in Florida through campaigns targeting big-name buyers like Taco Bell and Walmart.
- Farm workers deserve better protections under labor laws and potentially a path to citizenship for their contributions to the country.
Explore the complexities of the farming industry, including topics such as reliance on foreign-born and undocumented workers, exploitation, labor shortages, hazardous working conditions, and enforcement of labor laws. Delve into specific incidents highlighting abuses and the need for improved protections for farm workers.
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