Earlier this week, Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced the Agricultural Worker Justice Act. The legislation would require food companies to provide fair wages and safe working conditions in order to do business with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In support of the legislation, UFCW International President Milton Jones said, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture spends billions of dollars every year buying food, and that food should not come from companies that mistreat their workers.
“The Agricultural Worker Justice Act ensures that food and agricultural companies that exploit workers cannot do so on the dime of American taxpayers.
“Food workers are critical to the health of our nation and deserve fair wages and safe working conditions. How we spend our tax dollars shows our values as a country, which is why the UFCW is proud to support legislation that promotes good jobs for food workers, including hundreds of thousands of UFCW members.”
The bill would also increase funding for Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection capacity, make line speeds safer, ensure workers have access to restroom facilities and breaks, and create a framework for workers to hold their employers accountable to high workplace standards.
This legislation comes as the Senate considers a Senate Republicans’ proposed Farm Bill that slashes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, greenlights handouts to powerful agricultural interests, and fails to address critical issues facing workers. The UFCW has actively advocated against this Farm Bill. The Agricultural Worker Justice Act is a chance for Congress to stand up for the hardworking Americans who keep our communities fed and to rectify the shortcomings of the Farm Bill.