AEU SUPPORTS MEASURES TO BETTER CONDITION OF MIGRANT WORKERS

Because food and fiber in the United States are still produced under conditions which often amount to peonage, and

Because such conditions constitute a basic violation of the physical, mental and spiritual potentialities of those who labor under such conditions,

The American Ethical Union in its Annual Assembly at St. Louis in April 1961 does hereby go on record as favoring those specific remedies which have been proposed as steps toward the eventual solution of the "Harvest of Shame" which is present in many of America's agricultural fields.

Specifically we go on record as supporting the following measures which have been introduced into the Senate of the United States:

S.1122 - Agricultural Minimum Wage.

This Bill would include under coverage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 as amended farm workers on larger farms who are not members of the farm family or sharecroppers. It would by a series of stages set as a minimum wage in three annual steps a floor of 75 cents, 85 cents and finally $1 per hour in the three-year period following the enactment of the legislation.

S.1123 - Agricultural Child Labor

This bill would remove the present exemption of agricultural workers from exemption from the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

S.1124 - Federal Payments to assist in Providing Improved Educational Opportunities for Children of Migrant Agricultural Employees.

This Bill would provide a fund of $300,000 annually for five years to be allotted on a 75-25% basis (75% Federal Funds - 25% State funds) to encourage the development of State programs for the education of the children of migrant agricultural workers.

S.1125 - To provide Grants for Adult Education Programs for Migrant Agricultural Employees.

Would provide a fund of $250,000 annually for five years to states to pay for the operating costs of an adult education program for migratory agricultural workers and their spouses.

S.1126 - Registration of Agricultural Labor Contractors.

To provide for the registration and supervision of all those who contract to provide Migrant Agricultural Workers on a contract basis.

S.1127 - To assist in the Provision of Housing for Domestic Farm Labor.

To Amend Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 to make possible the issuance of loans for the provision of housing and related facilities of domestic farm labor, the amount of such loans (principal obligations) not to exceed $35,000,000 in any one fiscal year. Also to provide direct loans for such purposes in a revolving fund not to exceed $25,000,000

Source: Whereas ... 1962

Copyright © 2001 American Ethical Union.
Single copies of material on this website may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes only. All other rights reserved.