Farm Labor and Unions

Throughout American history there has been a constant effort made to increase the amount and improve the quality of farm products. To achieve these goals, farmers needed a predictable supply of workers, but the needs of growers and those of workers often conflicted. Agricultural workers have consistently faced similar problems in all sections of the country: low wages, unpredictable employment and a transient lifestyle, poor housing and medical care, exposure to chemicals and pesticides, onerous demands of employers, and the potential loss of jobs because of mechanization.