News/Events

News and events of WFC members, affiliates and associates.

Wisconsin Farmworkers Coalition 2024 Meeting Dates (Tentative)

Wednesday, January 17, 10-11:30am
Wednesday, April 17, 10-11:30am
Wednesday, July 31, 10-11:30am
Wednesday, October 16, 10-11:30am

News Release – Farm Workers and Meatpackers to receive $600 in relief payments

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2022/07/21/farm-labor-traffickers-bribe-georgia-government-employees/10098195002/

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) promulgated Emergency Rule 2204 (EmR2204) in Chapter DWD 301 for the protection of migrant workers from the virus known as COVID-19.

DWD Receives $3 Million Unemployment Insurance Navigator Grant

EmR2204 was approved by the Governor on February 18, 2022, was published February 25, 2022 and is effective as of March 1, 2022. The expiration date for EmR2204 is July 28, 2022.

Governor’s Council on Migrant Labor Meeting Dates https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/jobservice/MSFW/migrant-labor-council-description.htm

Additional information can be found on the DWD Migrant Labor Law webpage.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program that replaces the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB Program) to help low-income households pay for internet service and connected devices.

If your household is eligible, you can receive:

• • Up to a $30/month discount on your internet service
  • Up to a $75/month discount if your household is on qualifying Tribal lands
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

Only one monthly service discount and one device discount is allowed per household. To receive the connected device discount, consumers need to enroll in the ACP with a participating provider that offers connected devices (Note: not all internet company offer device discounts.) The internet company will provide the discount to the consumer.

Video about ACP in Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yWzR7cHK-g

The University of Wisconsin, Madison–School for Workers (“SFW”) is working with the Legal Action of Wisconsin Farmworker Project (“Farmworker Project”) on a community priority assessment of agricultural workers in Wisconsin. As part of this projects, SFW seeks to interview dairy farm workers and dairy operators to:

• • identify key themes expressed by agricultural worker communities about their priorities, strengths, and needs,
  • outline how the priorities and needs of dairy worker communities are unique or intersect with traditional migrant and seasonal crop and food processing worker communities,
  • provide recommendations on how the Farmworker Project can support dairy farmworker communities by leveraging its legal expertise to advance community goals and address community needs.

Agricultural workers interviewed by SFW will be compensated at least $40 for their time. Interviews will be conducted in Spanish and will last about 1 – 1.5 hours. Questions or to refer a worker, please email:

Armando Ibarra aibarra@wisc.edu

Alexia Kulwiec alexia.kulwiec@wisc.edu