Between the stuffing and the pie, please remember to give thanks to the people whose labor fills our groaning tables: New York State’s field hands, 100,000 strong, who toil under harsh conditions without legal protections afforded other workers.
Due to a historic injustice, the law denies them the right to overtime pay, the right to an unpaid day off a week and the right to organize and bargain collectively.
The Democrats who control the state Assembly have year after year voted to bring farm laborers in line with the general workforce. But the Republican-dominated Senate has balked, even though most of its members express support for equal rights.
Gov. Cuomo has for the first time forcefully taken a stand for equality and justice. Speaking with the Daily News Editorial Board before his reelection, he said: “I stand in solidarity on farm worker reform. I worked very hard” to resolve the matter, but “the Republicans were wholly recalcitrant. They would not do a farm worker bill.”
Perhaps Cuomo can finally make inroads in the Senate. While Republicans gained seats, the three Democrats who lost had all refused to publicly back farm workers, and freshman Democrat Marc Panepinto from Buffalo is a supporter. So the number of public supporters has grown to 30 (28 Dems and Republicans Carl Marcellino and Joe Robach), with 32 votes needed for passage.
The governor would have to hunt up two votes. There are four Republican possibilities: Jack Martins and Phil Boyle from Long Island, Andy Lanza of Staten Island and Martin Golden of Brooklyn.
Among the new GOPers there are Tom Croci and Michael Venditto from Long Island, Susan Serino and Terrence Murphy from the Hudson Valley, Rich Funke from Rochester and Rob Ortt from near Buffalo.
Just two more votes, governor. Then we can all give thanks.
