Overtime pay for farmworkers

This year, Comunidades along with other organizations formed a coalition to present a bill to the Oregon State Congress regarding overtime pay for farmworkers. A year prior, such legislation had already been passed in the states of Washington, California and New York.

Comunidades organized community forums and trainings to educate farmworkers. These trainings were aimed at empowering participants to testify before their state representatives. Although there was pressure from farm and packing house owners, Comunidades leaders met weekly, as well as informed other community members of the importance of organizing to get the law passed and begin to bring justice to farmworkers.

An example of this organizing effort was the community meeting at the Comunidades offices with Representative Anna William on January 28, 2022, where more than 50 farmworkers and their families participated, and many of them gave testimony about the importance of overtime pay for farmworkers. Also, more than 60 petitions were completed and sent to the Oregon House Finance and Revenue Committee to highlight the impact of farmworkers on both the state and national economy and that farmworkers should be paid fairly and with dignity.

In March 2022, HB-4002 was passed, which will pay farm workers overtime, which will be phased in as follows: 55 hours per work week during 2023 and 2024, 48 hours per workweek during 2025 and 2026, and 40 hours per workweek in 2027.

Communities and the Gorge community firmly believe that farmworkers are the economic backbone of America. That is why laws such as these are so important in the social struggle, which seeks to vindicate the migrant worker and his or her contribution to the country's economy. Comunidades will continue its work of empowering and raising awareness in our communities so that their voices are amplified in the search for change.

Juan Monje : Community Organizer of Communities