Farmworker Justice is a left-of-center nonprofit organization that mainly advocates for increasing labor regulations for agricultural employers and expanding seasonal migrant farmworker visa programs. It is associated with UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), a prominent Hispanic-issues oriented organization. ¹

Background

Farmworker Justice was founded in Washington, DC, in 1981 and in 1986 became a subsidiary corporation of UnidosUS (then known as the National Council of La Raza), a prominent Hispanic-issues oriented organization in the United States best known for its aggressive support of expanded immigration and granting legal status to illegal immigrants. Farmworker Justice maintains its own independent tax identification and board of directors. ²

The organization supports expanding regulatory requirements regarding labor conditions for employers of agricultural workers, enacting legislation that would effectively raise wages for agricultural workers, and passing immigration legislation that would alter policy to “stabilize the agricultural labor force.” Farmworker Justice advances these aims through engaging in advocacy and education programs on Capitol Hill aimed at legislators, bringing laborers to administrative agencies to voice policy points, and representing such laborers and organizations employing them in lawsuits challenging actions of the government and private corporations. Additionally, Farmworker Justice engages in outreach to other aligned organizations, provides educational programs, and conducts social media campaigns intended to influence and educate the broader public. ³

Farmworker Justice’s 501(c)(4) counterpart, Farmworker Justice Fund, was created in April 1981 and is based in Washington, D.C. ⁴

Activities

In August 2014, Farmworker Justice published a statement by its president Bruce Goldstein on its blog voicing support for President Barack Obama’s “Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces” executive order, which required federal contractors to disclose instances of labor law violations when awarding federal contracts. ⁵⁶

On November 23, 2020, Farmworker Justice published a statement on its blog supporting then-President-elect Joe Biden’s designated nominee to the position of Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and former deputy director of the Department of Homeland Security. ⁷

On November 30, 2020, the United Farm Workers and United Farm Workers Foundation, a labor union representing agricultural workers in California and its affiliated nonprofit arm, represented by Farmworker Justice and the law firm WilmerHale filed a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to reduce wages pursuant to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program, which allows employers to hire foreign workers on temporary visas for seasonal employment, requesting a preliminary injunction to stop the new regulation from coming into effect on December 21. ⁸

People

Bruce Goldstein, President

Bruce Goldstein joined Farmworker Justice in 1988 as a staff attorney. Goldstein represents the organization on the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of Hispanic-issues oriented organizations. Goldstein is also a cofounder and board member of the Equitable Food Initiative, an organization which works with agricultural producers and distributors to ensure working condition standards and food safety. ⁹

Alexis Guild, Director of Health Policy and Programs

Alexis Guild joined Farmworker Justice in 2011. Previously, Guild served as a Health Education Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Guatemala. ¹⁰

1. “About Farmworker Justice.” Farmworker Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/.
2. “About Farmworker Justice.” Farmworker Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/.
3. “About Farmworker Justice.” Farmworker Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/.
4. “FARMWORKER JUSTICE FUND INC.” Project ProPublica. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521196708.
5. “FARMWORKER JUSTICE APPLAUDS EXECUTIVE ORDER WHICH MAY STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS.” Farmworkers Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/news-article/farmworker-justice-applauds-executive-order-which-may-strengthen-protections-for-agricultural-workers/.
6. “Executive Order –Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces.” Obama White House Archives. July 31, 2014. Accessed January 4, 2021.https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/31/executive-order-fair-pay-and-safe-workplaces.
7. “Farmworker Justice Supports the U.S. President-Elect’s Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Department of Homeland Security Secretary.” Farmworker Justice. November 23, 2020. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/news-article/farmworker-justice-supports-the-u-s-president-elects-nomination-of-alejandro-mayorkas-as-department-of-homeland-security-secretary/.
8. “Farmworker Groups File Federal Lawsuit Against U.S. Department of Labor’s Decision to Freeze Wages Under the H-2A Agricultural Guestworker Program.” Farmworker Justice. November 30, 2020. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/news-article/farmworker-groups-file-federal-lawsuit-against-u-s-department-of-labors-decision-to-freeze-wages-under-the-h-2a-agricultural-guestworker-program/.
9. “Farmworker Justice Staff.” Farmworker Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/our-advisory-council/farmworker-justice-staff/.
10. “Farmworker Justice Staff.” Farmworker Justice. Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.farmworkerjustice.org/about-farmworker-justice/our-advisory-council/farmworker-justice-staff/.