Last week, Maine's legislature voted to define farmworkers as employees under state labor law, and to ensure that they receive Maine's minimum wage of $13.80 per hour. Currently Maine's farmworkers can only be assured of $7.25 per hour -- the federal minimum wage (unchanged since July of 2009).
The economics of farming are difficult, but cheap food should not come on the backs of the farmworkers. LD 398 is a compromise bill, and given that nearly all Maine farms say that they are already paying more than the minimum wage, this bill simply codifies that reality.
LD 398 - An Act to Make Agricultural Workers and Other Related Workers Employees Under the Wage and Hour Laws - is a basic human rights policy that will strengthen the health and wellbeing of Maine's farm economy, including Maine's farmworkers.
There is one more step in the process to securing minimum wage for Maine's farmworkers -- Governor Janet Mills needs to sign the legislation. Please call Governor Mills at 207-287-3531 or here and let her know that Mainers support LD 398!
Thank you for helping us create a food system that is healthy and fair for all of us!
