Florida Catholic | Farmworkers' hardships backed by government stats

Farmworkers’ hardships backed by government stats

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Published: 11.17.08

ITEMS NEEDED

Rice (5-pound bags are great but smaller bags are good as well) • Pinto beans • Dried beans • Maseca brand corn masa mix (used to make tamales) • Cornmeal • Vegetable oil • Tortillas • Salsa • Chopped canned tomatoes • Dry pasta (spaghetti • shells • elbow • etc.) • Instant milk • Coffee • Dry cereal • Oatmeal • Bottles of juice • Peanut butter • Jelly or jam • Canned meat • Canned vegetables and fruit • Soup • Sugar • Good Start brand baby formula • Baby juice • Baby food • Diapers (all sizes) • Baby wipes

The bishops of Florida have designated Nov. 23 as Farmworker Sunday to promote solidarity with those who labor for low wages, often under harsh conditions, in the agricultural industry.

The annual observance serves a reminder of the state’s bishops’ 2006 pastoral letter “Honoring the Dignity of Work: A Call for Solidarity with Florida’s Farmworkers and Other Vulnerable Workers,” in which, “We call upon individuals, corporations, institutions, government and the church herself to take concrete steps to promote freedom and justice for farmworkers and their families, and indeed for all Floridians in precarious occupations.”

The U.S. Department of Labor gathers statistical information on the U.S. crop labor force each year as part of its National Agricultural Workers Survey. The information, obtained through face-to-face interviews with farmworkers, tells much about the field workers wages, families, culture and working conditions. Here are some facts about U.S. farmworkers from the latest report on the survey, released in March 2005 and based on information collected in 2000 and 2001:

• 30 percent of farmworkers had total family incomes that were below the poverty guidelines. The average individual income range was $10,000-$12,499. The average total family income range was $15,000-$17,499. (The federal poverty line in 2007 was $10,210 for an individual and $20,650 for a family of four.)

• When paid a straight hourly wage, workers earned an average of $6.84 per hour; when paid strictly by the piece, they averaged $8.27 per hour. Year-round workers averaged nearly a dollar more per hour than seasonal workers.

• 75 percent of the workers were born in Mexico. Fifty-three percent of all respondents were not authorized to work in the United States.

• Farmworkers were young: their average age was 33, and half were younger than 31. Seventy-nine percent were men.

• 58 percent were married. Women were slightly more likely than men to be married (59 percent vs. 57 percent, respectively). Fifty-one percent of all farmworkers, married or single, were parents, with an average of two children. Ninety-six percent of those children were minors. Fifty-seven percent of farmworkers were living apart from all nuclear family members when they were interviewed.

• 81 percent of the workers reported that Spanish was their native language. Forty-four percent self-reported that they could not speak English “at all”; 53 percent could not read English “at all.”

• On average, the highest grade completed by crop workers was seventh grade.

• Seventy-two percent of the workers had one farm employer in the previous 12 months.

• Significant shares of farmworkers reported that their employer did not provide, on a daily basis, both drinking water and cups (20 percent), water for washing (5 percent) and a toilet (7 percent.)

HOW TO HELP

The Florida Catholic newspaper and the Florida Catholic Conference requests that individuals, parishes and organizations throughout the state collect items listed above between Oct. 24 and Nov. 23, Farmworker Sunday, and deliver them to drop-off points for distribution to farmworker families in need. For an up-to-date list of drop-off points and other information on the Food for Our Families drive, click HERE, e-mail mstpierre@thefloridacatholic.org or call the Florida Catholic toll free at 1-888-275-9953.

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