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Susan Ferriss
Co-Author: The Fight in the Fields
San Francisco Examiner, Latino Affairs Reporter Email Interview: March 21, 2014 |
1. Who opposed or supported the farm workers movement? How did those people act to demonstrate their opposition/ support?
"Many businesses and powerful politicians, including then Gov. Ronald Reagan, opposed the first grape boycott in the union organized to demand contracts with growers. Remember, farm workers were left out the right to unionize enshrined by the National Labor Actions Act. But over time, enough the public sided with the union and its demands that companies negotiate with them to sign contracts outlining workers' pay and rights."
2. What role did the government play throughout the movement?
"The government of California under Gov. Jerry Brown- the first time he was in office- was instrumental in bringing together various political interests and getting state legislature to approve the first state right for farmworkers to unionize. If you have our book, you can look at the chapter on this issue. It was historic and one of the big achievements of Brown's tenure as a young governor. State and federal worker safety officials are responsible for inspecting fields and ensuring that their rights are respected. You can probably Google some stories about workers' health and safety dangers. I wrote of series of stories while at the Sacramento Bee about farm workers dying of heat stroke, including a teenager who died while cutting grape vines. She might have been saved, but the foreman did not act in time- as required by law."
3. Do you believe that it is the government's responsibility to promote farm workers' rights?
"Yes, the government should promote workers' rights. Officials are supposed to ensure that fair election take place if some workers want to hold an election and choose union representation. California has such a board. It has often been packed with people from one side or the other. And as I said, officials for the state are tasked with making sure that laws protecting worker safety are followed as well as child safety laws."
"Many businesses and powerful politicians, including then Gov. Ronald Reagan, opposed the first grape boycott in the union organized to demand contracts with growers. Remember, farm workers were left out the right to unionize enshrined by the National Labor Actions Act. But over time, enough the public sided with the union and its demands that companies negotiate with them to sign contracts outlining workers' pay and rights."
2. What role did the government play throughout the movement?
"The government of California under Gov. Jerry Brown- the first time he was in office- was instrumental in bringing together various political interests and getting state legislature to approve the first state right for farmworkers to unionize. If you have our book, you can look at the chapter on this issue. It was historic and one of the big achievements of Brown's tenure as a young governor. State and federal worker safety officials are responsible for inspecting fields and ensuring that their rights are respected. You can probably Google some stories about workers' health and safety dangers. I wrote of series of stories while at the Sacramento Bee about farm workers dying of heat stroke, including a teenager who died while cutting grape vines. She might have been saved, but the foreman did not act in time- as required by law."
3. Do you believe that it is the government's responsibility to promote farm workers' rights?
"Yes, the government should promote workers' rights. Officials are supposed to ensure that fair election take place if some workers want to hold an election and choose union representation. California has such a board. It has often been packed with people from one side or the other. And as I said, officials for the state are tasked with making sure that laws protecting worker safety are followed as well as child safety laws."