Chapter 9 Labor

Compared to other food industries, food workers earn the lowest medien __________, rely more on food ______, and are more food _________

hourly wages, stamps, insecure

________ in Southern plantations led to modern-day farming _______ practices based on workers’ race, place of birth, citizenship status, ethnic succession, and other power hierarchies that involve dominance and subordination

Slavery, hiring

A majority of U.S. farm workers are __________ and a little less than ½ are ____________

foreign born, undocumented

New immigrants are usually coming from countries with little opportunity and are ignorant of ________________ which makes them more willing to ________________ when taken advantage of

protective labor laws, not question their circumstances

Most immigrant farm workers compare their _____ and ______ conditions to that of those in their ________, not other _________ which rids of recognition that other U.S. workers would not put up with the conditions they are faced with.

wage, labor, home country, U.S. citizens

Employers move from hiring a group of workers with a shared demographic who have some power in the workplace to a more vulnerable group of workers

Ethnic succession

Employers who are ________ and can _____ and _____ in ________ have a socially constructed power hierarchy over their employees who cannot causing employers to assume ___________

U.S. citizens, read, write, dominance

Federal and the vast majority of state laws deny farmworkers important labor rights including the right to _________ and the right to a __________

overtime pay, day of rest

Farm workers were excluded from this act that protected workers abilities to form unions to ask for better working conditions without getting fired

National Labor Relations Act

What are 4 things about the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938?

1. Protects labor rights in the private sector in the U.S.

2. Establishes minimum wages and overtime pay

3. Child labor prohibition

4. In 1966, farm workers were included

When farm workers were included in a 1966 amendment of the Fair Labor Standards act what were the exemptions?

Small farming operations, hand harvesters who are paid on a piece rate basis, and minors

Temporary or contingent jobs that offer few benefits or promotion opportunities

Precarious work

What are the 4 attributes of precarious work?

1. Low pay

2. Limited benefits and promotion opportunities

3. Unpredictable schedules

4. Increased vulnerability

Some examples of poor working conditions for individuals doing precarious work include; fear of being ______ or _____ due to power hierarchies, no job _______, feeling ______ on farms, long hours compensate ___________ and are physically ___________ which increase the risk of ______, no ____ sick or vacation days, ________ exposure, dangerous _________, and __________ tasks

deported, fired, mobility, trapped, decision-making, exhausting, injury, paid, pesticide, equipment, repetitive

Unique to small farms, extreme hierarchical relationship in which the employer’s control extends into workers’ everyday lives, affecting even their personal and recreational habits

Paternalism

Letting workers take home farm produce or use farm vehicles, letting nonworking family members stay in farm-owned housing or extending a loan to a worker, handling police interrogation for workers who were caught driving without a license or caused a disturbance, and a promise to a green card are all examples of which concept?

Paternalism

What is a major example of poor working conditions in processing labor?

Wage theft

An example of labor abuse when an employer does not pay the employee for his or her hours worked

Wage theft

Being denied medical care, being fired when injured, or not receiving workers’ compensation are examples of __________________

Food processing abuse

_________ can be a tool of labor control in processing work; it works by intimidating workers and can make them feel afraid and fear losing their jobs

Sexual harassment

There are only ______ Occupational Health and Safety Administration inspectors for ____________ workplaces leading to more reactive behavior only when there is a complaint

2,200, 80 million

A situation characterized by a progressively lowering or deterioration of standards

“Race to the Bottom”

What causes “race to the bottom”?

Competition

What does “race to the bottom” result in?

Weakening of labor protection further decreasing job security, quality, and safety

What are 3 examples of “race to the bottom”?

1. Converting full-time to part-time jobs

2. Dropping health insurance and pension

3. Subcontracting

Ranchers or farmers hire a “contractor” who is a middle man responsible for hiring, training, and providing housing for workers

Labor Contractor System

Who holds responsibility if a worker happens to get hurt and what is this concept called?

Contractor, subcontracting

What population of people tends to be forced into the labor contractor system?

Immigrants

70-80% of Central Valley farmworkers are undocumented, which reflects the concept of __________, where employers shift to hiring increasingly vulnerable groups of workers over time.

ethnic succession

The labor contractor in one of California’s Central Valley farms, represents the ________________system, in which a middleman takes on legal responsibility for workers, shielding ranchers and farmers from accountability.

labor contractor

When undocumented farmworkers in California’s Central Valley were too frightened to come to the fields after ICE raids, this illustrates how fear functions as a form of ____________, keeping workers compliant and unlikely to report labor violations or organize

labor control

The advice given to farmworkers in Central Valley California to change their routes, remove bandanas, and avoid carpooling with strangers reflects the concept of ____________ work, jobs characterized by increased vulnerability, lack of job protections, and unpredictable circumstances

precarious

When Tyson Foods was protected from legal liability under the Defense Production Act while workers contracted Covid, this reflects the concept of _________, where employers prioritize cutting costs and increasing profits over worker health and safety

“race to the bottom”

The ICE raid on 4 Mississippi poultry facilities arrested 680 undocumented workers but none of the companies faced charges, demonstrating the pattern of ______, where a more vulnerable group of workers is brought in to replace those with slightly more workplace power

ethnic succession

Tyson’s use of a preferred or connected physician and its refusal to disclose infection numbers at their plant is an example of the concept of ________, where company profit is prioritized over workers’ health following workplace injuries or illness.

labor abuse

A majority of Tyson workers continued to show up despite Covid fear—-motivated by the $500 bonus and fear of losing their jobs—-reflects the description of _________ work, characterized by increased vulnerability, lack of job protections, and workers feeling trapped with no alternatives.

precarious