Once again, New York’s family farmers are under attack, this time by the governor’s office and its group of disconnected followers. The brazenness of this administration to depict farmers as ruthless and abusive employers is outrageous. The way the governor and the Assembly Majority has treated the hardest-working people in our state shows the disdain and overall disrespect they have for the wonderful people who make up a very important and vital industry in our state.

In his release Gov. Cuomo describes farmers as not only abusive employers but bad actors:

“We have moved aggressively against employers who abuse their workers, and held bad actors accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We raised the minimum wage to restore the basic promise of economic justice, and have fought to strengthen worker protections statewide. Yet because of a flaw in the state labor relations act, farm workers are not afforded the right to organize without fear of retaliation – which is unacceptable, and appears to violate the New York State Constitution.” – Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Not only is this a blatant misrepresentation of the agriculture industry as a whole, but a personal attack on the character of the men and women whose profession is putting food on our tables. I’m interested to know the last time Gov. Cuomo spent some time on a farm or actually spoke to some of our North Country and Mohawk Valley family farmers outside of his once-in-a-decade photo opportunity.

New York already requires farm owners to provide workers’ compensation and is required to uphold state regulations stricter than federal ones with regard to housing. They must also cooperate with four different state agencies to ensure housing is appropriate for workers. Finally, New York State law requires all farm employees to have farm agreements in place that lay out the type of work to be performed, wages, hours of a standard work day and week, etc. The fact is, there are currently stringent regulations in place that protect the rights of farm workers.

Seeing some of my friends portrayed in such a way by elected leaders in our state only motivates me to continue working with my colleagues and advocate for our hardworking family farmers. I welcome your thoughts on this or any other legislative matter. Please contact me by emailing blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office at 315-493-3909.