Report
On The Mt. Olive Pickle Boycott By The Farm Labor Organizing Committee
And
Migrant Farm Worker Conditions In North Carolina And In the United
States
Farm worker
conditions described in this report reflect the situation throughout the United States and
are not exclusive to North Carolina. Some problems are worse in some areas than in others.
But nationwide, there is hardly any disagreement that the working conditions of farm
workers are substandard and need improvement to ensure dignity and “the fullness of
life” that the gospel proclaims. While FLOC’s action against Mt. Olive will not
immediately solve the problem in other places or even in other crops produced in the
state, it has the potential to establish an industry standard and a precedent in the
relationships between farm workers, growers and processors. Mt. Olive is the target for
the boycott because it is believed that the Company has the power and influence to change
the situation.
At stake is the
principle of giving farm workers a voice in determining conditions which profoundly affect
their lives. It is about all the players – growers, processors and farm workers-
accepting responsibility for maintaining standards which offer respect, dignity and
equity. This occurs in other sectors of the economy and it is time that farm workers be
afforded the opportunity to be treated as partners in the agricultural enterprises in
which their labor is indispensable.
In the past,
the NCCC has used its influence to bring resolution to farm labor conflicts such as the
one now involving FLOC and Mt. Olive. The NCCC was very instrumental in the resolution of
the boycott of Campbell’s Soup by FLOC. The resolution of that boycott resulted in a
three-way contract between Campbell’s, its growers and the farm workers, represented
by FLOC. This is an agreement that offers justice, dignity and equity to all the parties.
It is the obligation of the church to seek justice and the current conditions of farm
workers in North Carolina – and indeed in the nation- cries out for justice.