Saying he wants to leave no doubt he opposes the Farmworker Fair Labor Act as the legislative session in Albany winds to an uncertain close, Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana this week publicly took a stand against the proposal.
And he said he intends to convince the county Legislature to adopt a resolution opposing the measure.
The bill would grant collective bargaining rights, workers”™ compensation and unemployment benefits to farm workers. It also provides for 24 consecutive hours of rest each week, an eight-hour day for farm laborers and overtime at a rate of one-and-a-half times the normal rate.
“I”™m concerned about this job-killing bill negatively impacting Orange County”™s No. 1 industry ”“ agriculture,” said Diana, in a prepared statement June 21. “It seems like this legislation, while attempting seemingly laudable goals, is really trying to apply factory-like standards to the unique environment of farming, where work is dictated by the seasons. And in New York there is a relatively short planting and harvest time.”
The bill faces an uncertain future, but refuses to die despite being voted down by the state Senate agriculture committee in April. State Sen. Pedro Espada revived the measure by tweaking the language in hopes of avoiding the agriculture committee and going to the rules committee instead, where he hopes for a majority vote to support it.
“It”™s still in play,” said Peter Gregg of the New York State Farm Bureau. “We”™re actively lobbying against it.”
While there is currently no Assembly companion legislation, Speaker Sheldon Silver has expressed support for the bill, which he said would be considered by the Assembly, though he did not say when.
The legislative session is expected to end by the end of the month, but with items from a state budget to a revision of economic development programs all still unresolved, and with every state senator and Assembly member facing voters in November, it is uncertain what legislation will actually emerge before the session ends.
Orange County grower Chris Pawelski, an onion farmer who is diversifying into various other crops, praised Diana”™s forthright stance, noting he has opposed similar legislation in the past. “This is outstanding,” said Pawelski. “Once again the Orange County executive is taking the lead.”
