The Story of Migrant Farm Workers

When we sit down to dinner we seldom think of where our food comes from or of the work that goes into producing it. The truth is that without the labour of millions of migrant farm workers across Canada and the USA wed be staring down at empty plates.

Migrant farm workers are the people who follow the crops and work the fields be it planting, weeding, harvesting or packing. There are an estimated 3-5 million migrant farm workers in the US and Canada supporting a billion dollar agricultural industry. Despite their immense contribution to the economy (and our dinner) migrant workers receive very few benefits in return. With incomes far below the poverty line (an average of less than $7500 US a year) migrant farmers work long hours in hot fields amid dangerous farming equipment and poisonous pesticide, herbicides and chemical fertilizers.

The majority of migrant farm workers are of Hispanic origin coming primarily from Mexico and the Caribbean. Cultural differences and language barriers contribute to the plight of farm workers who are often exploited because of their illegal status (in the US 52% of migrant farm workers lack work authorization. Even though the other 48% of labourers are either citizens (22%) or are legal permanent residents, labouring in the fields is no easy task.

Although most migrant Farm workers have a home base area, the lifestyle is one of continual migration. Jobs are found by following the crops and housing is temporary and substandard. In some cases the employer provides the migrants a place to live but far too often these places are crowded and lack sufficient sanitation. When no housing is provided workers are often left living out of their cars or camping alongside the crop dusted fields. Poor living conditions go hand in hand with poor health and migrant farm. Medical treatment is rarely sought because of the cost of the treatment or fear of losing time at work, or deportation.

Depression is also common among migrant farm workers who often feel lonely and isolated. Frequently ostracized in their workplace communities but also slowly withdrawing from their home communities because of long periods of absence migrant workers tend to have the feeling of not really fitting in anywhere. The majority of migrant farm workers are male, typically unaccompanied who send money back home to support their families. In instances where entire families migrate together, children are continually changing schools and education is neglected as helping with farm work becomes the priority. The cycle of poverty perpetuates itself and children are raised in despair seeing no options to alter the course of their future.

Despite the difficult working conditions migrant workers are proud, strong people who take pride in the work they do. First hand accounts from migrant farm worker will testify to the satisfaction of a hard job well done and an honest days work, however the feeling of being exploited is ever present as large agricultural companies reap the profits of their labour.

The WTO and migrant farm workers:
In a system where short term profit and efficiency are placed before long term sustainability, family farmers can not compete with large scale industrial farming. As organizations like the WTO push for greater trade liberalization, corporations are able to move in and dominate the market, pushing small scale farms out of business. Left with no alternative farmers are forced into working for the vary companies that destroyed their livelihoods

Facts

• Cezar Chavez is the hero of American migrant Farm workers. He founded the United Farm Workers Union and helped farm workers organize and stand up for there rights. He organized successful grape and lettuce boycott as means of getting growers to sigh contract.

• There is an official migrant farm worker program set between Canada and Mexico (also Canada and various Caribbean countries). The intention of the program is to provide Mexicans with jobs and also to help out Canadian family farmers who are also struggling in the face of globalization by providing them with the necessary labour at crucial growing times. Though the program seeks to benefit both parties there are some areas that still need improving

• Under this program Mexican workers must contribute to Employment Insurance (EI) for which they are not eligible for.

• Mexican workers must have the consent of the farmer if they want to spend the night away from the farm .

• The strongest, healthiest and most able people are selected for the migrant farm worker and their absence is greatly felt in their home communities.