The National Council of Agricultural Employers says in a news release that it sent a letter to the USDA to urge the agency to issue a report and a criminal referral, if appropriate, regarding allegations that farmworkers were “targeted and coerced by union activists to sign union authorization cards to receive federal grant payments related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
NCAE says it contacted the USDA Office of Inspector General in 2023 and 2024 about allegations that the United Farm Workers coerced farmworkers into signing “card check” unionization cards as a condition of receiving funds under the Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program. NCAE says signing a union card was not a prerequisite to receive grant funds.
The trade association, which focuses on agricultural labor issues from the employer’s viewpoint, says it filed a Freedom of Information Act request last year for the USDA to produce information related to its “relationship with UFW Foundation and their ‘contact persons,’ the UFW team.”
NCAE says the Office of Inspector General has yet to issue a report or criminal referral, despite an investigation of the allegations. It also says the USDA has failed to provide agreements or financial reporting provided by the United Farm Workers Foundation (which is separate from the labor union) regarding a reported $95 million grant, disbursements made, balance retained, unused funds returned to the USDA, and more.
Michael Marsh, president and CEO of NCAE, says the organization appreciates the responsiveness and compliance from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service for providing documents for this inquiry.
“We trust that Secretary Rollins will move quickly to close the book on this matter if the evidence the IG’s investigation uncovers reflects the veracity of the farmworkers’ claims,” Marsh said in a news release. “The agricultural community has greatly appreciated Secretary Rollins’ advocacy on their behalf regarding agricultural labor. Likewise, we know that under Secretary Rollins’ leadership, that lack of accountability will not stand.”
