Statement About Gov. Cooper's Plan to Sign S615

For Immediate Release

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

Statement by NC State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan on Gov. Cooper's Plan to Sign S615

"We are deeply disappointed..."

"Working people in North Carolina deserve better from our legislators and our Governor." 

We are deeply disappointed that Gov. Cooper plans to sign the Farm Bill (S615). This legislation singles out farm workers and undermines their freedom of association and ability to collectively negotiate for better wages and working conditions.

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 clear conflict of interest and blatant abuse of power for legislators who are also growers to push policies that allow them to gain more and more profit on the backs of their workers.

Working people in North Carolina deserve better from our legislators and our Governor. We will be vigilant in our pursuit of justice for farm workers -- including supporting FLOC’s legal challenge of this unfair law.

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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.