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Article: Florida Growers, Migrant Farmworkers Hope Legislation Improves System.
- Article from:
- The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, FL)
- Article date:
- March 27, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Orlando Sentinel. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Christopher Sherman
Mar. 27--Citrus, vegetable and plant growers say a few people are giving Florida's $60 billion agriculture industry a bad reputation over the treatment of migrant workers, something they hope to address with legislation proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush.
But for the 150,000 to 300,000 migrant farmworkers in Florida and their advocates, the problem remains a system where farmers have all the power and workers have none. They applaud the bill's attempt to crack down on labor contractors who exploit workers but say the problems are more deeply rooted in growers' demand for a cheap labor supply.
"Every time it's brought to the ...