The working conditions of individuals employed all along the food chain – equaling about 20 million people – are detailed in a new report released yesterday by the Food Chain Workers Alliance in conjunction with its Food Workers & Food Justice Conference in New York City (of which FIC attended and facilitated a panel).

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – the federal body that investigates whistleblower retaliation complaints – announced last week its plan to establish a Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee.

The committee will make recommendations on "ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of OSHA's administration of whistleblower protections." In particular, it will make recommendations regarding the development and implementation of better customer service to workers who raise complaints, improvement in the investigative and enforcement process, the training of OSHA investigators, cooperative activities with federal agencies, and other relevant matters.

A new California law that strengthens farmworkers' right to unionize is facing its first test case, and so far officials appear to be on the side of the farmworker – a novelty in an industry where intimidation against migrant workers is a common occurrence.

Dutra Farms, one of the state's prominent raspberry growers, allegedly fired Dalia Santiago in February for union organizing. She had worked on the farm for eight years. After investigating, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board – thanks to new provisions that went into effect January 1 – concluded Dutra was engaging in unfair labor practices, and won a court order requiring that Santiago be hired back immediately.

A new report from Human Rights Watch titled Cultivating Fear:The Vulnerability of Immigrant Farmworkers in the US to Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment,

. . . describes rape, stalking, unwanted touching, exhibitionism, or vulgar and obscene language by supervisors, employers, and others in positions of power.

Food integrity concerns regarding USDA's proposal to streamline poultry inspection under the HAACP-Based Inspection Models Project (HIMP) – which would increase production line speeds and reduce government oversight – have been raised by consumer advocates and whistleblowers alike (including anonymous federal inspectors). Another significant, but often-overlooked, issue is the impact these proposed changes would have on the health and safety of the plant workers.

Photo via flickr user arvindgroverA food integrity victory surfaced yesterday with the announcement that a federal judge has ordered Jimmy John's to reinstate six workers who were fired last year after campaigning for paid sick days.

FIC has been following the struggle of Jimmy John's employees who have been organizing for worker rights – including the right to prevent customers from eating sandwiches made by sick workers – only to be intimidated and retaliated against by franchise owners Mike and Rob Mulligan for doing it. It's great to see that, once again, the National Labor Relations Board has validated worker voices, requiring that Jimmy John's reinstate those who were fired with back pay (about $10,000 each) within 14 days. (Get a recap of the NLRB trial and the events leading up to it here.)

Photo via wikimedia user Hannah 50More than a year after a lawsuit challenging the approval of methyl iodide in California was brought to court, the maker of the controversial strawberry pesticide suddenly dropped the product from the U.S. market. This week's announcement by chemical giant Arysta is a welcoming turn of events for the farmworkers, scientists and environmental watchdogs whose voices have been repeatedly ignored – despite claims of human health effects including cancer, brain damage and miscarriages among those who come into frequent contact with methyl iodide.