Legislator Carol Chock

Tompkins County Legislator Carol Chock (D Dist.3) has announced that she will introduce a resolution in the County Legislature on June 16 urging State Senate passage of the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act. The bill (S2247) would provide basic protections to farmworkers in New York State such as the right to organize and collectively bargain, the right to overtime pay, to take one day off each week, to enjoy the same unemployment and workers' compensation benefits as are available to all other workers and to be guaranteed safe and healthy temporary housing while employed on a farm or production facility.

A companion bill recently passed the Assembly with the support of Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton.

The County Legislature meeting begins at 5:30 PM.

UPDATE

The Tompkins County Legislature voted 10-4 to support the Farmworkers Fair Practices Act now being considered in the NYS Legislature. Tyke Randell was the deciding vote (10 were needed to get the item on the agenda as a member item). Carol Chock did a superb job guiding this time-sensitive issue through the process.

Next: a similar resolution coming before the Ithaca Town Board Monday, June 22. The meeting begins at 4:30 in the Aurora Room (back entrance) at the Ithaca Town Hall.