News From Rural Migrant Ministry

Action Steps

Help farmworkers get equal rights..

Let your State Senator know that you want New York State Labor law to stop excluding farmworkers from human basic rights afforded others (including a day of rest, overtime pay and protections when bargaining collectively) Send an email or better yet, a letter to your State Senator (you can get their contact info, by going to: State Senator Information.

Contact New York State Lawmakers and ask them to opt out of the federal mandate to make NY licenses federal identifications.

Governor Eliot Spitzer is close to making a decision about whether or not New York should follow a 2005 federal mandate without an opportunity for debate or hearing. The Real ID Act requires all States, including New York, to turn their Driver's Licenses into a national ID card.

New York Civil Liberty Union estimates the Real ID Act will cost New York $1.05 billion over ten years to implement, will send driver's license fees soaring, cause numerous bureaucratic hurdles, raise the risk and consequences of identity theft, invade New Yorkers' privacy. This effort will fail to do anything to keep New Yorkers safe.

Along with the risk of losing their licenses, many people would run the risk of losing their jobs due to a lack of transportation. The livelihood of thousands and thousands of rural families is at stake. The mandate would also increase the vulnerability and susceptibility to exploitation of undocumented workers by making them more dependent on their contractors. Furthermore, as more people lose their licenses, we will have increased numbers of uninsured, unregistered drivers on the road. This is a danger to all New Yorkers and a situation that will lead to higher insurance rates statewide.

Please call Governor Spitzer's office at or contact your state lawmakers about this issue and tell them "I support efforts to have New York opt out of Real ID."

To contact Governor Spitzer call 518-474-8390

To find your state Assembly member click here: State Assembly. To find out your state Senator click here: State Senator

For more information contact Ari Rosmarin, New York Civil Liberties Union at (212) 607-3358 or arosmarin@nyclu.org.

Speak out against Human Trafficking

Increasingly men, women and children are being held in bondage (including farmworkers) Here is a draft of a letter for you to modify to your State Senator.

Dear (NAME OF LEGISLATOR):

As an advocate of farm workers' rights, I have heard far too many stories of the exploitation of laborers who are doing the most back-breaking job of bringing food to our table. Among the most distressing of situations is of those caught up as victims of human trafficking.

I am very eager to see legislation passed in New York State that would ensure stiff penalties for those who prey on other people in this way and that would provide needed services for victims.

New York needs legal definitions and penalties related to the specifics of trafficking. Effective legislation would:

· Contain meaningful penalties: trafficking should be classified a C violent felony or higher to make sure perpetrators receive jail time

· Include a comprehensive definition: traffickers use a variety of means of force, coercion, fraud and intimidation and passport theft to control victims. There needs to be a broad enough definition to respond to these realities.

· Address demand: raise penalties on those who patronize illegal commercial sex

· Include sex tourism: whatever the status of prostitution in other jurisdictions, sex tour businesses should be prohibited from operating here

· Provide a defense for victims: a person's status as a trafficking victim should be a defense against prostitution charges

· Provide services for victims: survivors need a comprehensive set of immigration and social services, especially as they await federal benefits coverage

The Legislature has failed to reach a compromise on proposed bills the past two years. It is unacceptable that, as each year we hear of more and more cases of human trafficking in all corners of our state, perpetrators are going unpunished and victims are languishing without support. I will be joining many others in closely monitoring progress on legislation on this issue and holding you and our statewide leaders to account.

Sincerely,

Up-Coming Lobby Days for some of our sister organizations:

March 26^th New York State Council of Churches (For more info 518-436-9319)