The Farmworker Association of Florida, Inc. (FWAF) is a membership organization of over 6,330 farmworker families from predominately Mexican, Haitian, Afro-American, Guatemalan and Salvadoran communities, which was begun in 1983 and incorporated in May, 1986. The goal is to build a strong multi-racial economically viable organization of farmworkers in Florida empowering farmworkers to respond to and gain control over the social, political, economic, and workplace issues that affect their lives. An elected Board of Directors sets policy, guarantees implementation of work plans, and monitors finances.

The members of the FWAF work mainly in ferns, foliage, citrus, vegetables, and mushrooms. To date there are members in over eleven counties: Orange, Lake, Sumter, Seminole, Volusia, Putnam, Dade, Hendry, Collier, Lee, and Osceola. The South Florida organizing projects were initiated in 1992. Because of this expansion, the Association's Board voted to change its name from the Farmworker Association of Central Florida to the Farmworker Association of Florida.

HISTORY:
During its initial years, FWAF focused on leadership development and the establishment of seven local chapters of farmworkers in Central Florida. In the 1980's, Association members successfully lobbied to secure needed benefits for farmworkers affected by three severe freezes. In 1985, FWAF citrus workers created a plan for developing a cooperative business, PEP Labor Crews, Inc., which at its peak, before the 1989 freeze, employed over 300 citrus workers. In 1995 and 1996, PEP had a summer contract with Black vegetable farmers in Arkansas.

Association members worked for the inclusion of fern workers in the legalization program of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), and assisted over 4,000 Haitian and Hispanic farmworkers to legalize their immigration status under IRCA. The Association continues to provide training to workers on immigration rights.

In the early 90's, members of the Association gained improvements in wages and working conditions for workers in over 40 Central Florida companies, and continues to address injustices suffered by farmworkers in the work place. FWAF also addresses communities problems facing farmworkers, such as police harassment, neighborhood crime, problems with the Border Patrol, and State and Federal agencies.

Tirso Moreno, leader of FWAF, addressing a farmworker rally in Florida.

Since 1992, organizing in Dade County has resulted in bus transportation and the installation of phone lines to labor camps, strong tenants committees in the camps, and improvements in farmworker housing. In Lee County, FWAF helped farmworkers, whose homes were flooded, to secure emergency assistance, and file a lawsuit against the county which resulted in rezoning of land for farmworkers housing.

Since the early 90's, the Association has addressed pesticides, field sanitation, and other health and safety issues, educating and training members to learn their rights, secure the passage of Florida's Right-to-Know law to protect farmworkers, filed complaints for violations and advocating the government for better enforcement, and participated in a study in the effects of pesticides on farmworkers.

Two AIDS Education and Awareness projects are directed to high risk farmworkers, youth and minority women. Parents and students with Limited English Proficiency have been organized to secure the rights of students. A project targeted to pregnant and post- partum women is helping them have healthier babies. The Association has established three ethnic food stores, and is building 78 single family houses.

The Association is the founding member of the Farmworker Health and Safety Institute, and the Farmworker Network, which address health, safety and environmental justice issues for farmworkers.

Offices of the Association:

815 South Park Avenue
Apopka, Florida 32703
Tel. (407) 886-5151
Fax (407) 884-6644

119 N. Volusia Avenue
P.O. Box 496
Pierson, Florida 32080
Tel. (904) 749-9826
Fax (904) 749-1718

P.O. Box 2294
Princeton, Florida 33032
Tel. (305) 242-0032
Fax (305) 242-1154

 

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