Court Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking Collective Bargaining Rights for Farmworkers

January 25th, 2018

On Tuesday, the New York Farm Bureau announced that a State Supreme Court justice has dismissed the lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) that sought to create collective bargaining rights for farmworkers.  The court granted the New York Farm Bureau intervenor status in the lawsuit after the Governor and Attorney General refused to defend the State Labor Relations Act in court.

In his decision, Judge McNally wrote:

“the plaintiffs and the State have not demonstrated that the Labor Law statues are racially discriminatory or that farm workers are a suspect class entitled to constitutional protections. Any changes to the SERA (State Employee Relations Act) should emanate with the New York State Legislature as ‘the legislative power of this state shall be vested in the senate and the assembly.’”