LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the many contributions of New York State
farmworkers and recognizing their need for fair labor practices

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the efforts
of our farmworkers as they continue their hard work of cultivating the
land, facing the many challenges of nature such as flood, drought and
heat, in order to grow our food; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
many contributions of New York State farmworkers and to recognize their
need for fair labor practices; and
WHEREAS, Friday, May 1, 2009, is International Labor Day; the campaign
for an eight hour work day and a 40 hour work week, launched by the
American Federation of Labor on May 1, 1890, continues to this very day
for farmworkers in New York State; and
WHEREAS, Farmworkers directly contribute billions of dollars of
economic productivity to the New York economy and are the backbone for
the "buy local" movement now coming into vogue; the denial of equal
rights and protections to farmworkers in 2009 relates fundamentally to
our country's original sin of slavery; and
WHEREAS, Over 70 years ago, the New Deal labor regime, as conceived by
New York leaders President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Secretary of Labor
Frances Perkins, and Senator Robert Wagner directed Congress to pass
basic wage and hour protections for industrial and agricultural workers;
despite a majority, these protections were passed only by accommodating
the demands of southern segregationists, who objected on the grounds
that the protections would put farmworkers (a primarily African American
workforce) on an equal footing with their white counterparts in other
industries; as a result, the farmworkers fell victim to political expe-
diency and were left out of the New Deal and subsequent labor and
employment protections; and
WHEREAS, New York State then patterned its own labor laws after the
New Deal, repeating those particular exclusions; this state of affairs
stands in contrast to New York's ideals, history, and contemporary popu-
lar opinion; and
WHEREAS, Ending this shameful era of exclusion would restore pride to
the "Pride of New York" program and truly honor the industrious farm-
workers of New York State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the many contributions of New York State farmworkers and to recog-
nize their need for fair labor practices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Rural and Migrant Ministry and to The Justice for Farm-
workers Campaign.