NFWM News & Action Alerts
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In this issue:
- URGENT ACTION NEEDED NOW TO SUPPORT FARM WORKERS!
- Cosponsors needed for the Agricultural Workers Program
- Support Farm Workers and Submit Comments on the new H-2A Regulations
- Harvest of Justice 2019...coming up SOON!
- PCUN Instrumental in Oregon Legislation for Farm Workers
- YAYAs help a community address food insecurity
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URGENT ACTION NEEDED NOW
TO SUPPORT FARM WORKERS!
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Cosponsors needed for the Agricultural Workers Program
From now until September 6
th
, please take the time to contact your Congressional Representatives while they are on summer recess. If possible, look for opportunities to meet with them at local events or make an appointment with them in their district office, or simply e-mail or call the district office to invite them to cosponsor The Agricultural Workers Act (S. 175/H.R. 641) if they have not already. For contact info, go to
Find Your Representative
The Agricultural Workers Program Act provides a path to citizenship for farm workers and their families, desperately needed since the escalation of immigration raids around the country. It also provides a
reliable
and
legal
work force for growers in their communities. This legislation would help keep farm worker families together as they work to feed our families.
For talking points and a guide to making these contacts, go to
our download.
For background on the Agricultural Workers Program, download this resource
here.
THE DEADLINE TO MAKE THESE CONTACTS IS SEPTEMBER 6
th
.
Please speak up for farm workers now!
Together, we will let Congress know that we care about farm workers.
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Submit Comments on the new H-2A Regulations
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently released proposed regulations for H-2A Guestworkers, a temporary visa provided to farm workers for seasonal work in our country.
These H-2A regulations govern the way this program works in our country. They would effectively reduce many worker’s wages, give the workers responsibility for the cost of their transportation, make housing safety standards weaker and limit the number of current US workers to be employed at H-2A farms. In 2018, 242,000 H-2A visas were approved and the number is exponentially increasing to affect a larger portion of farm workers around the country.
Your voice is needed… COMMENTS ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 24th, and make sure to name NFWM!
The DOL is planning extensive changes to the current H-2A program, a number of which would harm farm workers – both U.S. and foreign, as well as their families. Along with our partners and allies, NFWM would like to generate a large number of comments to the proposed changes. A model
here (click to download)
was created by Farmworker Justice as a template for comments, both for organizations/churches/groups as well as for individuals.
Both
are needed. It includes space for personalization and the opportunity to add specific examples or additional information. The proposal from DOL is very long and complex. Farmworker Justice’s template is lengthy as well, so please consider just choosing one or two of the highlighted segments, respond in your own words, and send. We have been told that if comments are not significantly customized they will not be considered in order to discourage mass produced response.
For a simpler step, please visit the UFW
website
and participate in their e-mail response cards…designed for the impact mass volume can produce. Either way, please
email
the National Farm Worker Ministry to let us know that you have taken action and named NFWM in your comments.
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The 2019 Harvest of Justice season begins on Labor Day, September 2 and lasts through World Food Day, October 16
th
. This is an opportunity to raise awareness about farm workers, to take action with and for them, and to support the National Farm Worker Ministry. Join us as we focus on standing with farm workers against gender based violence. New resources are available: weekly flyers, a short video, and ideas for ways to observe Harvest of Justice in your church and community. Now available
here
.
The video
“Maricela’s Story: Standing with Farm Workers Against Gender Based Violence”
highlights the work of farm worker partners and allies as they address gender based violence. Thanks to the support of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), Leticia Zavala, their organizer, and Maricela, a member of FLOC, tells the story of how Maricela was affected by sexual harassment as a farm worker woman, and how they addressed this harassment together. The film also highlights allies including the United Farm Workers Union and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
Weekly flyers
feature aspects of gender based violence and provide prayers, quotes, farm worker information, and solidarity actions that can be taken to support farm worker efforts. Follow NFWM throughout the season on
Facebook
and
Twitter
for weekly reminders and video clips from Maricela’s story.
Be sure to consider getting your church/congregation/community to plan an event during Harvest of Justice season or host a house party for friends! Gather for a fellowship meal, show the video, offer opportunities to take action, invite participants to sign up for NFWM’s e-news and Action Alerts and then take an offering to support this ongoing work to connect the faith community to the farm worker movement. For ideas, visit
our web site.
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PCUN Instrumental in Oregon Legislation
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DRIVERS LICENSES FOR ALL in OREGON
By the Rev. Connie Yost, President, Farm Worker Ministry – Northwest (FWM-NW) and member of National Farm Worker Ministry (NFWM) Board of Directors
The Rev. Connie Yost joined in the celebration as Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed HB2015 – Equal Access to Roads Act – Driver’s Licenses for All bill into law at PCUN -
Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste
(Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United), Oregon’s farm workers union and the largest Latino organization in the state - on August 9, 2019. This was a tremendous victory for Oregonians! Members of multiple human dignity groups around Oregon, including PCUN and FWM-NW, worked incredibly hard to successfully move legislators to vote in favor, including collecting signatures on hundreds of postcards, testifying and lobbying in Salem, and organizing and attending community forums.
In the 2019 legislative session, Oregon took steps towards ensuring that undocumented immigrants could legally obtain driver's licenses for the first time in more than a decade.
HB2015 amended state law and removed the requirement that potential drivers prove US citizenship or legal residency to receive a state driver’s license. The bill will also allow undocumented residents in the state to obtain legal identification cards and learner's permits, but not commercial driver's licenses. Governor Kate Brown signed the bill into law, overriding a 2007 executive order issued by former Governor Ted Kulongoski that stopped the state from granting licenses to undocumented people and stripped the licenses of approximately 80,000 Oregonians.
The bill will take effect in January 2021 and will expand eligible motorists by accepting a written statement that the person has not yet been assigned a social security number. NFWM joins in celebrating this victory for farm workers and congratulates PCUN and FWM-NW for their diligent work to change the law in their state. Si Se Puede!
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YAYAs Help a Community Garden
Address Food Insecurity
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This August YAYA has continued to develop their relationship with St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Apopka, FL. Taylor Snider, Part-time YAYA Coordinator, and Katie-Beth Rohe went to the Winter Garden Community Garden with the organization Grow Orlando, headed by St. Luke’s member Frank Bailey. This project is organized by
Grow Orlando
and partially funded by St. Luke’s.
Grow Orlando
and St Luke’s plan is to not only revitalize a community garden which once grew a large amount of produce, but also to revitalize a community center through a landscaping project. Their goal is to give the Winter Garden community access to high quality fruits and vegetables in what is considered to be a food desert. By giving community members unfettered access to nutrient dense nutrition` and offering a safe space for children of the community to garden and learn about food sovereignty,
Grow Orlando
is having a significant impact in their community.
The YAYAs spent Saturday morning getting their hands dirty with Frank Bailey and his team.
Weeds were whacked, friendships were made.
All in all it was a wonderful day in Central Florida and YAYA hopes to come back again and continue to serve the Winter Garden community.
Photos: Above: Frank Bailey and his team; Below: Katie-Beth clearing weeds.
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NFWM Supports These Boycotts led by our Farm Worker Partners.
We hope you will, too!
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National Farm Worker Ministry | 919.807.8707 | nfwm@nfwm.org | nfwm.org
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