Farmworkers Join Call for Higher Wages
Monday, March 31, 2014
By: Michelle Smith

March 31st, 2914 | WMFE, Orlando- Workers' rights groups rallied in downtown Orlando Monday morning to call for an increase in the state's minimum wage.

Members of Organize Now, Our Walmart, and the Farmworker association of Florida rallied outside Senator Bill Nelson’s office for the event, which coincided with Cesar Chavez’s birthday.

Vanessa Ferriera of Our Walmart says the $2.17 increase would make a financial difference in the lives of minimum wage workers – and raise their morale.

“More than half the workers at Walmart rely on food stamps and Medicaid, its just not right" says Ferriera.

"Raising their wages we could give them a decency in life and be able to support their families and make them feel more worthy.”

The Fair minimum wage act of 2013 would raise wages by 95 cents three times over the next two years bringing it to the proposed $10.10 an hour.

Farmworkers and domestic workers whose wages are based on a production rate wouldn’t benefit from the proposed increase- but Jeannie Economos of the Farmworker association of Florida says they should. 

“We are here in solidarity with workers all along the food chain to try and get the minimum wage changed and then hopefully the next step will be to try and fight for farmworkers to be included in some of the labor acts,” says Economos.

Around 40 representatives from across the state met in Tallahassee Monday to represent farmworkers in their fight to increase their wages and as tackle other issues such as immigration reform and kidcare reform.