Kennedy Calls For End to Abuse of Farm Workers

Half a century ago, Edward R. Murrow and CBS broadcast a documentary exposing the plight of migrant farm workers in Immokalee, Florida. Airing shortly after Thanksgiving in 1960, "A Harvest of Shame" told the story of a neglected and mistreated class of Americans who worked long and back-breaking hours to put food on the tables of families across the nation. The story shocked the conscience of the nation and compelled us all to speak out against these abuses.

The appalling conditions of farm workers moved my brother, President Kennedy, and others to crack down on abuses in the infamous "Bracero" program and end a dark chapter in our nation's history. Later, when Robert Kennedy and I were both members of the Senate Migratory Labor Subcommittee, we met with a group of migrant workers and saw their plight first hand. Both of us were very moved by their plight and inspired by their campaign for justice and equality.

But too little has changed over the years. At today's hearing, we will hear about the challenges that still exist for migrant farm workers in Immokalee, Florida and throughout the nation, and how far we have to go to provide genuine fairness and justice for this vulnerable workforce.

Farm workers in Immokalee and nationwide have some of the hardest jobs in America. Yet they often toil for the lowest wages and under the most dangerous conditions. For the tomato workers in Immokalee, the pay they receive hasn't changed in a decade.

They head off to the fields before the sun rises, and they're still working hard when the sun sets. During the harvest, they work 10 to 12 hour days, seven days a week, with no overtime pay. They each pick as many as 2 tons of tomatoes per day, yet they earn only $40 to $50 for this hard day's work. Their work can disappear for weeks or months, leaving them without means to support their families.

Their working conditions are deplorable, but most of them are afraid to demand fair treatment, because they know they'll be fired, blacklisted, or turned over to immigration officials. These conditions are not limited to Immokalee—they're widespread, and getting worse.

Today, we will hear about a courageous campaign to increase the wages of tomato workers by a penny a pound. It may not sound like much, but for the tomato pickers, it means the difference between poverty and decent wages.

Several major companies, including Yum Brands and McDonald's, have already recognized the urgent need, and have reached agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to pay an additional penny a pound. They've also adopted a Code of Conduct and agreed to have a third-party monitor whether the workers are in fact receiving the higher wages.

I commend these companies for demonstrating strong leadership on this issue. They understand that it's good business to pay workers fairly, even if the law doesn't require it.

Shamefully, however soon after the Immokalee workers began receiving the extra penny, the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange rose up and threatened its members with $100,000 fines if they continued to make the extra payments to the workers. Citing unspecific legal concerns, the Growers Exchange succeeded in blocking these increases.

Twenty-six prominent law professors have told this Committee in a statement that any such concerns are unfounded. Yet the growers continue to stand in the way of fair wages for tomato workers.

By meeting today, I hope we can ensure that the Immokalee workers will receive an extra penny per pound they deserve. We will also explore the other widespread problems that farm workers face throughout America.

As Robert Kennedy said, we must "help those who have not been able to help themselves, whom society has not helped, whom the Federal Government has not helped, and whom not enough States have helped. It is not only our responsibility in Government. It is also the responsibility of people who are in management, of those who are growers, and those who are employees and have some leadership ability. All of us must try to do something to rectify the situation or it's never going to be changed."

I commend Senator Sanders, Senator Durbin, and Senator Brown for their leadership on these issues, and I particularly thank Senator Sanders for urging the Committee to hold this hearing, and I look forward to the testimony of our witnesses.

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