Sep 27, 2024

Farmworker and grower employer group changes name

WAFLA has changed its name.

The Lacey, Washington-based organization which addresses the labor needs of growers and farmworkers has changed its name to the Worker and Farmer Labor Association.

The name change displays the organization’s work to aid agricultural industry employers and workers while simultaneously promoting community and collaboration, according to a news release..

Since its founding, WAFLA has worked to provide farmworker housing and guarantee growers retain consistent and adequate workforce access. WAFLA educates farm employers on compliance and regulatory issues, according to the release.

In a divisive political climate where harsh politics can threaten to divide employers and workers, WAFLA works to promote unity. The new name underscores the organization’s commitment to recognizing the dignity and worth of every individual in the agricultural industry and joins them for the collective good, according to the release.

“The agricultural industry is unique, shaped by the unpredictable forces of nature, economic pressures, and the essential task of feeding the world,” Enrique Gastelum, WAFLA’s CEO, said in the release. “Farmers depend on workers, just as workers rely on farmers for employment. The success and sustainability of the agricultural sector hinge on this mutually beneficial relationship.”

The name change is more than a rebranding. It’s am affirmation of the group’s longtime concentration on the human element of agricultural labor. By including growers and workers in its name, the group displays its dedication to fostering a thriving and sustainable agricultural workforce and community, according to the release.

Formerly known as the Washington Farm Labor Association or wafla, the Worker and Farmer Labor Association is dedicated to stabilizing agricultural labor needs and educating members on compliance and regulatory issues. WAFLA is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of family farms and seasonal employers throughout the United States, predominantly in the Pacific Northwest. We are the largest organization of our kind in the country.

Based in Lacey, Washington, WAFLA is a nonprofit agricultural association dedicated to helping farmers and farmworkers navigate complex labor issues. WAFLA’s 1,300 member farms in nine states.