Statement on Anti-Union Amendment to Farm Bill (S615)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, [email protected], 336-255-2711

Statement by NC State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan on Anti-Union Amendment to Farm Bill (S615)

“A conflict of interest and abuse of power”

“Sneak attack on some of our state’s most vulnerable working people”

On the same day legislative leaders wasted time introducing a resolution to impeach the Secretary of State, they launched an unnecessary attack on farm workers by sneaking in a last-minute amendment to the Farm Bill (S615) that takes away farm workers' freedom to use payroll deduction for voluntary dues to a labor organization. In addition, the amendment makes it illegal for farm workers to ask growers to sign an agreement with their union as part of settling a lawsuit over wage or labor violations.

This attack on farm workers' rights is most likely in retaliation for a series of lawsuits brought by farm workers and their union (Farm Labor Organizing Committee) over wage theft and mistreatment on several farms in Eastern NC -- including one owned by Sen. Brent Jackson, who sponsored this bill and chaired the Senate conference committee.

It is a conflict of interest and an abuse of power for legislators who are also growers to push policies that infringe on farm workers' freedom of association and make it more difficult for them to collectively negotiate for better wages and working conditions.

Legislators should be ashamed of themselves for this sneak attack on some of our state's most vulnerable working people.

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of unions of working people in North Carolina, representing a hundred and thirty thousand members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working people. PO Box 10805, Raleigh, NC 27605.