By Doug Cunningham

The United Farm Workers union says a new national agreement represents a breakthrough for foreign workers imported to the U.S. for agriculture work. UFW spokesman Marc Grossman says this agreement will protect these workers.

[Marc Grossman 1]: “This contract between Global Horizons and the United Farm Workers represents an historic breakthrough for farm workers. It means that farm workers who are imported from other countries to work in this nation will be assured that state and federal laws will be enforced because we’ll do it through collective bargaining.”

The UFW says this new agreement should also mean that undocumented foreign workers won’t have to fear employer retaliation if they speak up about working conditions.

[Grossman 2]: “We’ll use this new national contract to make sure that state and federal laws protecting agricultural guest workers are obeyed, that those workers will not be fired arbitrarily, that those who complain about conditions or treatment will not be summarily deported.”

This agreement provides for a significant pay increase for foreign workers. This new contract also provides that health coverage for foreign workers imported to work in the U.S. will be paid by their employers.