Alt Labor, Immigrant Workers and Agriculture. Literature & Language

Alt Labor, Immigrant Workers and Agriculture
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Alt Labor, Immigrant Workers and Agriculture
Non-traditional labor organizations, or "alt labor" have been crucial in improving the conditions of migrant workers who are employed in farms in the United States. The three alt labor organizations include Coalition of Immokalee Workers (U.S.) ("CIW"), Justice in Motion
(U.S.) ("JIM"), and Agricultural Workers Alliance (Canada) ("AWA") (Dias-Abey, 2018). A distinguishing factor that differentiates between the three organizations is their roles and functions. The AWA works by establishing a network of centers for workers where they can claim their legal rights (Dias-Abey, 2018). On the other hand, JIM supports cross-border litigation and CIW monitors and implements a private approach for regulation to help immigrant workers.
The law is closely intertwined with politics. Most laws come up as a result of political pressure and influence. In some cases, politics also influence changes in laws. This relation matters in the context of farmworkers since most of them are regarded as illegal workers (Fair Food 2017 Annual Report, 2017). However, organizations can influence the public regulatory systems to ensure that they consider the needs of immigrant workers, and in the end, they will be recognized by law. For instance, CIW, JIM and AWA are examined by also focusing on the political economy of the food system (Dias-Abey, 2018). The political economy comprises how food system consumption and production organization. It entails the regulatory aspects that guide farm worker's conditions in the workplace and the migrant status of the individuals.
Even if the workers are aware of the laws and rights, they will be reluctant to enforce them since they do not want the employer to retaliate. The employer can choose to fire the employee if they are demanding for better wages or working conditions. The issue is further aggravated when the employee's migration status is not legal, and this means the employers will easily take advantage of them. Most of these individuals work in low skilled work such as in farms providing farm labor for picking fruits and vegetables (Fair Food 2017 Annual Report, 2017). This means they are easily replaceable and vulnerable (Rawal, 2014). Due...