Suit Filed to Block Farm Labor Law
Sponsored by:
Farm interests are suing to block California´s new law requiring mediation for farm labor disputes. They say it unfairly singles out the agriculture industry for a labor relations process found nowhere else in the United States.
The suit filed in Sacramento County says the law is unconstitutional because it would end private party contracting within the agricultural industry. Instead, it empowers a state mediator to write farm labor contracts.
Advocates say it would lead to larger paychecks, better health care and other benefits typically given to workers in other industries. They led farm workers on a 10-day march through the Central Valley to the state Capitol in support of the law last summer.
