La Unión Del Pueblo Entero

FARM WORKER AND IMMIGRANT MOVEMENT VICTORIES IN SOUTH TEXAS

During the United Farm Workers:
(Under the leadership of Rebecca Flores, State Director for South Texas)

1981: Ban of the Cortito

Legislation passed; Growers subsequently began requiring workers to use a knife for weeding seedlings.  In 1987 a law was passed to outlaw unnecessary stoop labor but the Republican Governor vetoed it ‘because workers already had Workers Compensation coverage.’

1983: Clean Toilets & Drinking Water in the fields

Texas Dept. of Health adopted field sanitation rules rather than face a national boycott of Texas fresh vegetables which ‘might be contaminated by human waste.’

1984: Inclusion under Workers Compensation law

In light of a ruling by the Texas Supreme Court, a special session of the Legislature adopted legislation guaranteeing coverage for all farmworkers.

1984: Pesticide Controls

Texas Department of Agriculture adopted a set of rules requiring farmers to warn neighbors (when requested) of impending aerial spraying

1985: Unemployment Compensation for farmworkers

Following the same argument as the Workers Comp law, the Supreme Court forced the Legislature to provide coverage to farmworkers who had been excluded.

1985: Minimum Wage improvement

The Legislature raised the state minimum wage from $1.70 to $3.35 per hour.  Later revision permanently tied the state minimum to the federal minimum wage.

1987: Pesticide Controls

Under threat of another discrimination lawsuit, the Legislature wrote a law which established requirements that growers record their use of pesticides and provide farmworkers access to those records.  It also required training for farmworkers and distribution of pesticide use information.  Under a Republican Commissioner of Agriculture most provisions have been declared superseded by federal Worker Protection Standards.

2001-2007: Driver’s License for Immigrants

The Texas Legislature passed a bill removing the requirement that applicants present a Social Security Card to apply for a license.  This provision would have enabled undocumented immigrants to obtain a license in Texas.  Although the bill passed with overwhelming support, the Republican Governor used his veto power to kill the legislation.  In every session since 2001 the Republican majority has blocked any effort to pass a bill to allow immigrants to obtain a license.

2001: Resident Tuition for Undocumented Students

Through the organizing efforts of a broad coalition, the legislature passed a bill permitting all graduates of Texas high schools to enroll at any university in Texas and pay resident tuition rates instead of ‘foreign student’ rates.

During La Union del Pueblo Entero:

2005-2007, 2011: Colonia Streetlights

In 2005 and 2007, LUPE won important legislation allowing county governments to provide streetlights to colonia neighborhoods. In 2005 the Legislature authorized counties to expend a portion of their CDBG funds to install and maintain streetlights in colonias.  In 2007 they authorized those same counties to collect a fee from colonia residents to pay for the electricity used by those streetlights. This year we will finally see the fruits of our labor with 10 colonias to receive streetlights in four Hidalgo County precincts.

2011: Drainage and Housing

Without the proper infrastructure to drain them, Colonia residents face persistent flooding, some tolerating standing water for weeks before it’s pumped out. This year, Hidalgo County Commissioners agreed to devote at least $14 million of Hurricane Dolly Disaster Recovery funds to improve drainage projects in colonias. Additionally, colonia residents will be prioritized when the federal government distributes $122 million to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Doll. These victories came as a result of the work of LUPE, ARISE, TOP, Proyecto Azteca and the rest of the Equal Voice Network’s housing and drainage team.

Help us continue attaining victories for colonia residents by donating today!