Speech #910262514

In the past. only local remedies were sought. State and local governments and private organizations have in many instances acted to aid these people. However. because of the great number of migrant workers and because of their constant movement their plight is a national problem of concern to all Americans. While the Congress has enacted legislation to alleviate some of the problems afflicting these people. additional action must be taken to allow them and their children to share in the benefits of our society. First and foremost. migrant workers urgently require coverage under the Na-. tional Labor Relations Act. They must have the right to utilize the collective bargaining process to improve their economic and social status as industrial workers have for more than 30 years. Mr. President. one of the most critical needs of the migrant agricultural worker and his family is for decent housing and sanitation. Programs must be developed to assist in the construction of adequate housing facilities for these workers and their dependents. The migrant worker faces unemployment with no reserve in the form of unemployment compensation which the industrial worker has long taken for granted. Our unemployment insurance laws must be amended to provide benefits for workers employed on large commercial farms. At the present time a farmworker is eligible for social security if he receives $150 in cash wages from his employer during the year or if he works for the same employer for cash wages for 20 days or more during the year. Because of their constant movement. short periods of employment and low rate of compensation. most migrant workers do not meet the requirements to be eligible for social security benefits. Our social security law should be amended by reducing from $150 to $50 the amount which must be earned from a single employer each year by farmworkers. In that one act social security benefits would thereby be extended to 500.000 farmworkers. the great majority of them migrant laborers. Mr. President. while these proposals recognize the problems of migrant workers and. to some degree. will correct their wretched working and living conditions. they by no means completely solve the problem of bringing the living standard of these forgotten people to the level enjoyed by most other Americans. The migrant worker and his family face a near hopeless future. Each year as the educational and skill requirements of tomorrows farm jobs are increased. opportunities for migrants will become further limited. Additional and improved programs for housing. unemployment compensation. and social security will help. These programs must be cohesive. comprehensive. and extensive.