The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is a highly influential and significant union founded in the Toledo area. FLOC has fought for farm workers’ rights, primarily in the Hispanic and Latino community, since 1967. For almost 50 years, FLOC has addressed many unjust practices and human rights abuses faced by migrant and low-wage farm workers in Ohio and beyond. The organization was founded by Baldemar Velasquez, the son of migrant workers, in response to the staggering injustices he witnessed. The primary focus of FLOC is to fight injustice through strength in numbers and community organizing. FLOC has expanded beyond the farm fields, now addressing labor inequalities in urban settings as well.
Achievements
FLOC, beginning in the vegetable fields of Northwest Ohio, has conducted many successful negotiations for higher wages and improved conditions with major corporations. In 1986, FLOC was the first union of its kind to successfully negotiate a supply chain agreement for fairer wages for farm laborers. This landmark negotiation involved the Campbell’s Soup Company and their supplying tomato farms. Rather than negotiating with the employers of the farm workers, the Committee dealt with Campbell’s directly, raising the price of tomatoes and thereby enabling the farm employers to offer fairer wages. FLOC has had similar successful negotiations with companies such as Heinz, Mt. Olive and Vlassic.
FLOC builds up Toledo
Peter Meinecke, a community organizer, has been involved with FLOC since September 2014. Passionate about social issues and particularly interested in issues related to the Hispanic and Latino communities after spending a year in Guatemala, Meinecke states “I’m very passionate about social justice”. He organizes the FLOC Homies Union which “addresses barriers to success.” This program shifts the focus from farm field labor to community building within Toledo. The Homies program addresses limited opportunities for employment as well as systemic barriers which contribute to increased unemployment rates among disadvantaged youth aged 14-24. They offer classes which teach job skills such as resume writing and interview etiquette. “We teach community organizing in these classes,” says Meinecke, which helps to empower the local community with this valuable knowledge. This is part of FLOC’s focus on utilizing strength in numbers to mobilize community solidarity, creating a voice for the underrepresented to achieve positive change. According to Meinecke, one of the major goals of FLOC is to “build an institution of poor people here in the city.” FLOC is also concerned with issues of police brutality and “the criminal justice system funneling minority youth into the court system.” They work alongside organizations such as Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo to address these serious issues.
Current mission
FLOC is currently also involved in farm workers’ rights issues in the tobacco fields in North Carolina and Tennessee, negotiating with companies such as RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris as well as fieldwork and grassroots organizing efforts. “We visit camps and talk to workers directly,” says Meinecke, “with many face to face meetings.” Representatives of FLOC discuss the benefits of organizing labor with farm workers and encourage them to introduce this conversation into their communities. FLOC educates workers about community organizing and their right to fair wages. As they mobilize support and complete successful negotiations, FLOC will continue to be a much needed voice of representation for marginalized communities. According to Meinecke, “There are laws in place to protect them [farm workers], but it’s still a struggle.”
To find out more about FLOC, visit their website at floc.com
Facebook: (FarmLaborOrganizingCommittee)
Twitter: (SupportFLOC)
