Labor

104. Child-Labor Laws

We support strict enforcement of child-labor laws by proper authorities to ensure that children have a full educational experience opportunity. However, state law should not be so restrictive that secondary vocational agricultural students be prohibited from participation in internship programs. The appropriate agencies should work together to foster opportunities for vo-ag students in concert with the "school-to-work" initiative. (LABOR)

105. Collective Bargaining Law

For purposes of uniformity, we strongly favor agricultural labor relation’s legislation at the national level rather than state legislation. Any legislation should include safeguards for workers, employers, and consumers, such as:

• requiring secret ballot elections,
• prohibiting secondary boycotts as in other industries,
• providing immediate injunctive remedies for illegal acts,
• protecting against strikes at harvest time,
• requiring continued right-to-work protection. (LABOR)

106. Employee Transportation Expenses

We oppose any regulation or court decision requiring employers to pay travel or visa costs for employees from their permanent residence to the employer’s place of business except as may be required by a temporary foreign worker program in which the employer is voluntarily participating.

We oppose paying, during the first week of work, costs of any migrant employees, as these costs are not primarily for the benefit of the employers but also benefit the employee. Employers should not have to pay wages for travel time from employee residence to the place of work. (LABOR)

107. Immigration at the Federal Level

Recognizing that immigration is a federal issue, we oppose immigration legislation, ordinances or rules at the state or local level. (LABOR)

108. Independent Contractors

We oppose regulations that impose strict employer liability against growers who utilize bona fide independent contractors. (LABOR)

109. Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts

We oppose the concept of compulsory Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (ILTA). Furthermore, ILTA grantees should not be allowed to engage in any activity precluded under legal services corporation regulations. (LABOR)

110. Labor Housing

We encourage agencies that perform labor-housing inspections to work with farm labor housing providers to provide safe housing and to allow them to correct problem areas in a timely manner before imposing fines. We urge public agencies to educate farm workers on housing maintenance issues. We support changes in housing funding legislation to prevent discrimination against agricultural workers. (LABOR)

111. Legal Foreign Workers

The use of legal foreign workers is critical to the sustainability of agriculture in Florida and needs to be assured, simplified and cost-competitive to make their employment more feasible for agriculture. (LABOR)

112. Legal Services

We support the concept of legal assistance to the poor. We particularly encourage pro bono work by state bar associations. While we support the concept of legal assistance, we believe that legal service grantees have acted far beyond the scope of their original mission.

We support efforts to reform these abuses. (LABOR)

113. Management Programs

We strongly encourage employers of farm laborers, either directly or through farm labor contractors, to pursue progressive labor management relations programs. These programs should include training, oversight and analysis of such things as working conditions, wages, housing, transportation and the general well being of those employed. (LABOR)

114. Mandated Safety Programs

We are opposed to federal or state mandatory safety programs for employers who have good safety experience ratings. (LABOR)

115. Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)

We are opposed to Florida being an OSHA contract state. (LABOR)

116. Right-to-Work

We support the principle of right-to-work as a constitutional guarantee and recommend strict enforcement of and adherence to the Florida Right-to-Work Law. (LABOR)

117. Rural Child Care

We encourage public and private support of licensed child-care facilities in rural areas. We commend and support the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) and other similar organizations in their efforts to provide quality child care for children of Florida agricultural workers. (LABOR)

118. Workers' Compensation

We recommend workers' compensation be retained and administered by private industry and not taken over by the state or federal governments.

We urge modification of existing statutes, which would assist in reducing the net costs of workers’ compensation to employers. Workers' compensation is especially punitive to agricultural operations because farmers cannot pass on these costs, as do other industries. (LABOR)