Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that farm owner groups want Gov. Andrew Cuomo to take their side in a lawsuit over farmworker rights filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union. The suit, on behalf of a North Country dairy worker, would expand labor protections and allow farmworkers to organize. On June 7, different groups representing farm owners asked Cuomo for help. Currently, the state Labor Relations Act excludes agricultural workers, the lawsuit supporters say that is unconstitutional, "because an amendment to the state Constitution approved in 1938 extended the right to organize for all workers, regardless of industry," Hamilton writes. When the lawsuit was announced Cuomo said his administration would not go to court to defend an “unacceptable” “flaw in the state labor relations act.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Farmers Lawsuit Letter to Cuomo 6-06-16 by Matthew Hamilton