For years, Pablo has watched growers exploit and silence workers on the various farms where he has worked, and now he is determined to do something to change it. He works tirelessly educating his coworkers about their rights under the union contract, and encouraging workers to speak up when there is a problem.
On Sunday, over 50 members from more than 15 different labor camps across Eastern North Carolina came together to participate in the first 2016 regional meeting for union members covered by the FLOC and NCGA (North Carolina Growers Association) contract.
Rafael’s work in the fields came to an abrupt halt last season when his left hand was crushed by a machine that was laying plastic in the fields. While the accident may have ended his work in the fields, it opened a new door for him: organizing with the union.
FLOC mourns the loss of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and the officers killed in Dallas and Baton Rouge, and we honor their lives by standing beside our black brothers and sisters fighting for black lives to be valued, respected, and protected.
FLOC Homies Union organized a Women’s Empowerment March to raise awareness of sexual harassment and abuse toward women, empower women to speak out about these issues, and encourage institutions like the Toledo Public Schools to address these issues in a meaningful way.
May 31, 2016 “We only asked for what is ours and for what the law says: that we should get paid and that the supervisor stop abusing people. We don’t deserve to lose our jobs for speaking out.” -Valentin, blacklisted worker from Jackson’s farm NC Senator Brent Jackson has been the target of thousands of …
Read more “Sen. Jackson silent on wage theft charges as group delivers 10,000 name petition”
FLOC members and allies took over Winston Salem streets for the eighth time at Reynolds American’s annual shareholders meeting, calling on the company to guarantee freedom of association throughout their supply chain and ensure farmworkers have a safe grievance procedure to voice and remedy complaints. This year, FLOC’s focus was on a recent report of child labor and other serious violations on Reynolds contract farms.
Seven farmworkers at State Senator Brent Jackson’s family farm in Autryville, NC have been blacklisted after filing a law suit against Jackson for unpaid wages and an unfair termination. Read more and send a letter in support of these workers!
For the past five years, President Velasquez has attended the British American Tobacco (BAT) Annual General Meeting along with US and UK allies. This year a group will once again attend the meeting to press BAT do more to end human rights abuses in the tobacco fields in the American South. Read more and see the full statement from FLOC.
FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez will join other food heroes, including journalists, government officials, researchers, farmers, and more to discuss important issues surrounding justice in our food system. Read more and see how you can watch live!