NEWS 10 NOW (Syracuse, New York)

March 2, 2010

Farm workers bill meets with opposition

It's a law designed to help farm workers by mandating protections that exist in other lines of work. But New York farmers say the law would force them out of business. Kaitlyn Ross has more on this controversial bill

ALBANY, N.Y. -- "Ill-timed, Ill-advised, not necessary. Basically, it fundamentally changes agriculture in New York," said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau president.

Hundreds of farmers from across the state traveled to Albany Monday to rally against the Farm Worker Labor Bill that would enforce mandatory overtime pay for farm workers, and give them the option to form unions.

"If this bill is passed, and approved, you'll no longer see small family markets on the roadside," Norton said.

First drafted 20 years ago, Norton argues the bill is outdated, and would drive up costs, leading to the closing of hundreds of small farms across the state.

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the bill with a number of upstate lawmakers voicing their opposition to it.

"The consequences of this legislation just have not been thought out clearly," said Senator Daryl Aubertine.

A dairy farmer for 25 years, Aubertine says there are already too many mandates on farmers in New York as it is.

"Enforcing the laws already on the books will address it, I think that's where the focus should be," Aubertine said.

But advocates for the bill say change is needed in the agriculture industry.

"There is no moral, economic, or political rationale for denying people their human rights. These kind of arguments are separate," Senator Pedro Espada said.

Bronx Senator Pedro Espada Jr. traveled to an upstate farm in support of the bill, and says the issue is not about economics, but rather humane working conditions.

"I think a starting point that lets them have a rest day, a starting point that lets them have a collective bargaining power that are inherent in the constitution of this state- these are the minimum guarantees," Espada said.

Those arguing against the bill however say there has to be a better way to accomplish those goals. Senators on the Agriculture Committee introduced three new pieces of legislation that aim to lower taxes on New York State Farmers.

There's still no word on when the current farm worker bill might be brought to the floor.