TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Varias organizaciones representantes de trabajadores de Florida circularon el documento llamado "An Agenda for Florida's Workers," (Una Agenda para los Trabajadores de Florida), en el que hacen un llamado al próximo gobernador del estado para que mejore a los trabajadores de Florida sus empleos, salarios y condiciones laborales.
Las organizaciones incluyen al “Miami Workers Center” (Centro de Trabajadores de Miami), la “Florida AFL-CIO” (Federación AFL-CIO de Florida), “The New Florida Majority” (La Nueva Mayoría de Florida), “Organize Florida” (Organicen Florida) y la “Farmworker Association of Florida” (Asociación de Granjeros de Florida).
Estas agrupaciones que representan a trabajadores en Florida dicen que han pasado muchos años desde que tuvieron un aliado en la mansión del gobernador; ante esto, presentaron el documento llamado “An Agenda for Florida Workers” (Una Agenda por los Trabajadores de Florida) que consiste en un lista de los problemas prioritarios dirigida a la legislatura y al gobernador entrante.
La agenda de este año, a cargo de grupos como el “Miami Workers Center” (Centro de Trabajadores de Miami) y la “Farmworker Association of Florida” (Asociación del Granjero de Florida), señala de manera puntual que mientras la economía del estado ha estado creciendo bajo el Gobernador Rick Scott, los salarios han seguido igual pero los costos de vida han estado aumentando. Así que delinearon una lista de once prioridades clave de las que deberán encargarse los líderes actuales y futuro.
Rich Templin, director legislativo y político de la AFL-CIO, dice que una de ellas se relaciona con reparar lo que considera el peor sistema estatal de seguro de desempleo en toda la nación.
“Trabajadores desempleados, gente subempleada por problemas ajenos y que necesita desesperadamente el beneficio de estos pagos para sobrevivir, pero no califica porque francamente la legislatura, trabajando con la comunidad de negocios, corrompió el sistema para que nadie calificara.”
El “Florida Department of Economic Opportunity” (Departamento de Oportunidad Económica de Florida), encargado de procesar las reclamaciones de desempleo, defiende el programa remitiendo a quienes necesiten a su página Web, floridajobs.org.
Pero luego de las grandes tormentas como el Huracán Irma, a la mayoría de los trabajadores de Florida y los negocios les fue imposible acceder a la asistencia al desempleo por desastre.
La agenda de los trabajadores también llama la atención hacia el empoderamiento de comunidades locales para combatir las reglas de “preemption”, derecho preferente de compra; pero Moné Holder, de la Nueva Mayoría de Florida (“New Florida Majority”) dice que la agenda colectiva de los trabajadores estaba encabezada por un problema.
“Definitivamente salarios y condiciones de trabajo. Saben que los empleados trabajan de veras duro para brindar servicios a la gente en general, y para proveer a sus familias, y deberían poder tener oportunidad de disfrutar su libertad financiera, estar protegidos y a salvo en su trabajo.”
Holder señala que los trabajadores de Florida con salario mínimo, de $8.25 la hora, apenas ganan $17,000 al año, cantidad insuficiente en el estado para cubrir lo básico.
Una encuesta reciente publicada por “Credit Loan” mostró que los floridanos apoyan el incremento al salario mínimo en casi 4 dólares. Otros problemas incluidos en “An Agenda for Florida's Workers” (Una Agenda para los Trabajadores de Florida) son proteger a los trabajadores inmigrantes y ampliar las oportunidades laborales para gente que tenga antecedentes.
El estudio de Credit Loan puede consultarse en: www.creditloan.com/blog/gauging-the-minimum-wage
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A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are prioritizing coordination so potential cases do not fall through the cracks.
Since Minnesota adopted a wage theft law in 2019, it has seen a handful of high profile examples of state and local officials going after companies accused of shortchanging workers.
John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney, feels Minnesota is starting to come around to the idea such matters should not just be resolved through civil penalties. He said there are some keys to taking the next step in seeing a wave of additional cases.
"It's really doing the investigations," Choi explained. "Then also making sure that we get referrals from other agencies that might be doing that civil enforcement."
Choi's office has hired a wage theft investigator, though stakeholders acknowledged not all county prosecutors and sheriff's departments around the state have such resources.
Choi co-chairs the Labor Advisory Council in the Twin Cities, which leads discussions with key partners and labor leaders about working more closely on the issue, including knowing when it is appropriate to pursue a criminal investigation.
Minnesota's Attorney General has been aggressive in combating wage theft but is only allowed to file civil lawsuits. The decision on criminal charges is up to county prosecutors. Choi emphasized the good news is the Attorney General can lend support to under-resourced offices. He suggested community members can spur more interest, too.
"I also think, just locally around the state, a lot of local sheriffs would be interested in undertaking some of these investigations once they start hearing from the public," Choi noted.
Under Minnesota's wage theft law, an employer can now be charged with a felony. Choi added there are other legal tools, such as charges sought by the revenue department, and said it is a matter of ensuring agencies are not working in silos.
The Labor Advisory Council said wage theft is rampant among nonunion construction activity. It estimates in the Twin Cities, employers steal more than $3 million in wages each year.
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Legislation proposed by Maine Gov. Janet Mills would ensure thousands of farmworkers are eligible to receive the state minimum wage.
Current law requires they be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, compared to the state minimum wage of $14.15.
Cynthia Phinney, president of Maine AFL-CIO, said the bill still lacks protection from excessive forced overtime or the allowance for an unpaid rest break after six hours of work.
"Those are things that other workers are entitled to already and farmworkers are not," Phinney pointed out. "Certainly farmworkers work hard enough."
Phinney noted the legislation would require employers to keep records of their workers' hours and provide them with pay stubs. Some farmers have opposed the increase in wages and overtime protections, saying it could force them to cut workers' hours.
Farmworkers were intentionally excluded from benefits and protections in the National Labor Relations Act, which protects the rights of workers to unionize and collectively bargain. They were also originally exempted from wage and overtime protections in the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Phinney argued it is time to correct the historical injustice.
"It's not lost on us that they were classifications that included largely workers of color," Phinney observed. "They included domestic workers, farmworkers."
Gov. Mills vetoed previous bills to ensure wage and other protections for farmworkers, only to develop a committee of union organizers, farmers, state agencies and lawmakers to develop the new legislation. If passed by the Legislature, the minimum wage for farmworkers would take effect Sept. 1, peak harvest time for Maine's blueberries and apples.
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With tax season winding down, efforts continue to spread the word about Minnesota's new Child Tax Credit.
Outreach leaders say it's another way to help struggling households land on firmer financial ground.
Under the plan approved by lawmakers last year, families who qualify will receive up to $1,750 per child, with no limits on the number of children for filers claiming the credit.
The Children's Defense Fund's Economic Justice Outreach Manager Natletha Sumo Kollie said the extra refund will complement aid programs these households might be relying on.
"Public programs, right now as they exist, are really something that we call expense reducers," said Kollie. "If you have SNAP, it can only go towards food. But the idea of flexible cash, from tax-credit refunds, it's something that you can use for other things."
That might include a car repair or paying off some medical debt. State revenue officials say so far, about 145,000 filed returns have claimed the credit.
Among those eligible are households with little to no income that aren't required to file taxes.
Kollie said there are barriers to reaching those families and easing their fears about going through the process of receiving the tax benefit.
To help as many people as possible learn about the Child Tax Credit, the Children's Defense Fund has added it to its "Bridge to Benefits" platform.
Kollie said you can find out if you're eligible through this online screening tool.
"You just answer a few questions about the county that you live in, your family makeup - to see if you're a single or married household, the ages of the children, your income," said Kollie, "and then the tool tells you what public programs and tax credits you're potentially eligible for."
And there's information on free tax prep sites in your area.
Her organization also partnered with the Minnesota Budget Project and Prepare & Prosper in developing a website with specific details on the CTC called ClaimYourMoneyMN.com.
Kollie said the new benefit isn't a cure-all in addressing poverty, but it should help.
She said benefit cliffs remain a challenge.
That's when a household gains a little more income, then loses a public aid benefit - and what they earn doesn't make up for that loss, leaving them economically unstable.
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