Migrant labor - one worker’s story BY MONTIE TAK Staff Correspondent If you want to know about a farm worker’s life, ask Joseph Allen. If it grows, he’s probably picked it. Over 20 years ago Allen emigrated from the island of Grenada to Florida. “I go to plenty other states since then,” he says. During his travels, Allen picked corn in Wisconsin, apples and cherries in Michigan, tobacco in 9,000 or • 1-10 Bales $14.95 ea. • 10-24 Bales $14.50 ea. • 25 + Bales $13.99 ea RUNNING GEAR igues Available • Standard Tongue • Ad] Wheel Base • 6 Bolt Hubs I J Less Wagon & Tires lO ton 8 TON 6 TON 500 Gil 42 Boom with adiustible y "b” 1 bracing duty frame Before You Buy - Check Our Heavy Duty Frames There Is A Difference 200 gal 200 gal 300 gal 500 gal 500 gal. 3 Point Trailer Trailer Trailer Single Axle Dual Axle . Connecticut, oranges, sweet peppers, tomatoes and strawberries in Florida, and ap ples, peaches and tomatoes in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina. He spent eight years as a crew leader, supervising and directing the workers’ labor for growers. A Chambersburg resident, Allen is chairman of the local advisory board for Pennsylvania Farm Workers Opportunities. Over the SR TWINE SPECIALS 10,000 ft. per bale •3321 or Toll Free les 717 & 215) 732-0053 Big at EM Herr's Every Day Low Prices Reg $599 95 Sale $569.95 Reg |499 95 Sale $469.95 Reg $469 95 Sale $435.95 polyethelene tank Campbell Sprayers Your Headquarters For Alt Sprayer Parts & Accessories • All sprayers less pumps • Trailers less tires • All sprayers priced - completely assembled KNQCK DOWN SALE salE LOW PROFILE BOOMS Reg $839 95 •749« • 699.95 $998 95 ‘See” • 859.95 $1139 95 •10S9*> • 999.95 $1649 95 *l499** *1449.95 $1699 95 • 1599” >1549.95 years he has seen a lot of changes in the ways farm workers are treated. “Back then we didn’t have these organizations for legal help. We didn’t know anything about how migrants could get help, like if you had an injury in the field, picking. Now we know the growers are responsible for workmen’s com pensation. * “We have the facilities to know what we have a right to know.” C AIUIPP E/rinßU% HOME SUPPLY R D #l. R t e 272 South, Herry.lle Rd .W. I low Street, Pa "aSo? Sat 7*o*oo WE UPS ANYWHERE Workers are entitled to know the type of work involved and the per hour wage as well as the amount of work available. Much of Allen’s volunteer work is to educate farm workers to their rights. One of the most essential things Allen sees about grower-worker relationships is “to get one-to-one with the growers. You can share with one another and air your complaints. Twenty years ago they just knew you as a worker and not to be heard. “Now you are heard and not just to complain.” " A source of potential misun derstanding is the relationship with the crew leader. Because of the size of some farms, workers may never actually meet the grower. The crew leader acts as intermediary. , Alternatives to migrant labor? BY MONTIE TAK Staff Correspondent According to Lawrence Mc- Millan, there is a viable alter native to traditional migrant labor living in camps on the growers’ property. McMillan, a member of Farm Workers Opportunities, advocates busing workers to farms each day and returning them to their own homes in the evening. He feels this plan would eliminate the potential for abuse of farm workers’ rights in migrant camps. He says there are 75 qualified workers “or more” right near where he lives in Allentown. All of the workers need transportation to farms and McMillan wants to get these workers and the state’s growers together. Most of the workers he represents the Florida pickers who remained in the north after previous picking seasons instead of returning south. “These are good people,” says McMillan. “They know how to pick. They know how to climb WASHINGTON - Commodity President Everett Rank said loans disbursed in April by the U.S. today. Department of Agriculture’s The new rate, up from 9-1/8 Commodity Credit Corporation percent, reflects the interest rate will carry a 9-3/4 percent interest charged by the U.S. Treasury in rate, CCC Executive Vice April, Rank said. 425 Gal. Pick-up Tanks Reg. 399.95 rp-, ! t I i I I I ' lL .*■ nrnnaun. ACE CENT. PUMP HYPRO $179.95 8 Roltor Mresist Prices Effective Thru April 20.1985 Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 13,1985-Al9 “The crew leader has tremen dous power,” points out Allen. “The way he operates is like partnership with the grower.” Crew leaders, he adds, should not take advantage of the people or be v overgenerous. If there are labor difficulties, tHe workers may not know what the grower and crew leader discuss behind closed doors. Difficulties can also result from federal or state camp inspectors who might accept a payoff to close their eyes to certain conditions. Allen also sees a conflict bet ween federal and state standards relating to living conditions in the camps. “Asking for two different requirements, state and federal, can make conflicts,” he says. “There should be just one set of standards.” trees. Now they are on the food stamp program just waiting for an opportunity to work. “A lot of people would love to do this work,” he continues. “Our office is overflowing with people now. We are trying to place as many as we can.” Additional advantages he sees are that workers could work year round for the farmers, doing pruning and maintenance in the off-season. He says the people he represents have ability and could offer their loyalty to the growers. And a long range advantage to everyone’s benefit would be the alleviation of state programs as capable people went back to work and in their turn became taxpayers. ‘‘lt is tp the workers’ advantage not to live on the farm. It is to the farmers’ advantage to eliminate the middleman and to eliminate providing lodging for the workers,” McMillan points out. “There are more advantages to the grower than disadvantages.” CCC loans at 9%% *299 95 MANURE SPREAD! CHAIN • 67*H • Slat Connector Li • 20 Ft. Left Hand • 20 Ft. Right Ham ROLLER PUMPS Re*. SALE If 6 Roller 7 Roller 7 Roller Gal. SALE 550 *259.95 *89 95 Reg. $99.95 $51.99 $7l 99 $99.95 •47.95 •65.95 •89.95 •69.95 •99.95 $79.95 $124.95
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers