United Farm Workers Files Lawsuit over USDA Suspending Labor Report

Last week, United Farm Workers filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for suspending a farm labor survey. Last month, the USDA announced the intention to suspend the Agricultural Labor Survey. The Department of Ag claims the public can access other data sources for the data collected in the survey.

The Agricultural Labor Survey provides quarterly statistics on the number of agricultural workers, hours worked, and wage rates. Number of workers and hours worked have been used to estimate agricultural productivity, while wage rates have been used in the administration of the H-2A Program and for setting Adverse Effect Wage Rates.

The lawsuit filed in Fresno federal court by the United Farm Workers and UFW Foundation alleges the notice will, "send ripple effects throughout the farm labor market, ultimately resulting in many U.S. farmworkers being paid less."

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary and permanent injunctive relief preventing USDA from suspending the Farm Labor Survey.

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