Droves of frustrated farm workers tired of low pay and substandard housing protested in front of Ben & Jerry’s flagship store seeking better working conditions for migrant dairy workers, according to a recent New York times article.
Across the nation, movements are growing seeking to improve the wages and other work-related issues for our country’s more than 2 million migrant workers. If you or someone you know is involved in a labor dispute, contact a Los Angeles employment attorney right away to learn about your rights and obligations under the law.
Labor Groups
Several progressive and innovative groups have grown in an effort to help farmworkers. These include Migrant Justice, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. These groups have begun having success, despite a decline in the Farm Workers’ Union and the large percentage of farm workers who aren’t in the U.S. legally, and have started groups in Vermont, North Carolina, California, and Florida among others.
Farmworkers are not covered by federal and most states’ wages laws and, as a result, many migrant workers make less than minimum wage. Accordingly, many farmworkers experience abusive labor practices such as unsafe or unhealthy working conditions or substandard housing.
Fair Labor Standards Act
Originally enacted in 1938, the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) guarantees a minimum wage for most workers in addition to overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. The law also requires employers maintain payroll records for all employees. While FLSA did not cover farmworkers until 1966, the minimum wage provision still applies.
The FLSA also has child labor regulations that offer less protection to child-agricultural workers than those in other industries. In fact, the law does not have restrictions on the minimum age of agricultural workers, the maximum number of hours that can be worked, or the safety standards required.
Contact a Los Angeles Employment Attorney
If you or someone you know believes their employer is paying unfair wages, is providing an unsafe working environment or is dealing with any other employment issue, contact a Los Angeles employment attorney right away. The knowledgeable Los Angeles employment attorneys at Levine & Blit, PLLC have years of labor law experience and can provide a free no-obligation case evaluation. Contact us for your free case evaluation today or call our Los Angeles employment attorney’s office at (212) 967-3000 today to schedule your initial consultation.