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Judge Delays New York Farm Law

Mike Groll
/
AP

A federal judge has blocked New York from enforcing parts of a landmark farm labor law that was due to go into effect last week.

The temporary restraining order against the state was in response to a last-minute lawsuit brought by a coalition of New York dairy and vegetable farmers.

The new law gives New York farmworkers the right to unionize, collect overtime pay and take at least one day off per week for the first time in the state’s history. 

Farm owners say the law appears to classify them as “farm laborers” who have the right to engage in collective bargaining. That’s banned under federal law.

The judge will give the state and the farmers until January 24 to try to reach a settlement.

A native Long Islander, J.D. is WSHU's managing editor. He also hosts the climate podcast Higher Ground. J.D. reports for public radio stations across the Northeast, is a journalism educator and proud SPJ member.