Tune in for a very special panel discussion on the proposed Farmworker Fair Labor Practices (FFLP) Bill.

The bill, as described on the NY Senate website, "Enacts the farmworkers fair labor practices act: grants collective bargaining rights to farm laborers; requires employers of farm laborers to allow at least 24 consecutive hours of rest each week; provides for a 10 hour work day for farm laborers; requires overtime rate at one and one-half times normal rate; makes provisions of unemployment insurance law applicable to farm laborers; provides sanitary code shall apply to all farm and food processing labor camps intended to house migrant workers, regardless of the number of occupants; provides for eligibility of farm laborers for workers' compensation benefits; requires employers of farm laborers to provide such farm laborers with claim forms for workers' compensation claims under certain conditions; requires reporting of injuries to employers of farmworkers."

The conversation, moderated by Erin Fairbanks, covers a number of different perspectives and gives context on how this will influence the daily lives of farmers and farm workers.

Panelists:

John Cronan, Jr. is the workplace justice organizer at the Restaurant Opportunities Center of New York (ROC-NY), a membership-based workers center dedicated to improving working conditions and raising standards in the restaurant industry. He also has over twelve years of experience as a restaurant worker.

Librada Paz is a Council Member of Western New York for the Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM) and one of the main heads for RMM's Justice for Farmworkers Campaign (JFW). She has been a tireless leader in New York's farmworker human rights movement for 20 years.

Wade McMullen is the Staff Attorney for Partners for Human Rights. In this capacity he will help to develop a new PHR strategic litigation program to bring high impact human rights cases before regional mechanisms and domestic courts. He will work with staff to explore new avenues to enhance the existing work with RFK laureates and human rights defenders worldwide.

Margaret Gray is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Adelphi University.

Adriano Espaillat is a member of the New York State Senate and was a member of the New York State Assembly.

"The right to collective bargaining is a fundamental right." 14:00

--Wade McMullen on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

"It's really hard work, we need to keep the rights of these people. It doesn't matter where you go - farmers will struggle with one thing or another." [17:00]

--Librada Paz on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

"If we're talking about sustainability, we should be talking about sustainable jobs that go along with the delicious meal on the plate." [24:00]

--Maggie Gray on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

"People along the food chain are on public assistance at twice the rate of regular workers." [24:00]

--John Cronan, Jr. on HeritageRadioNetwork.org

This program was sponsored by Tabard Inn.

This week on Taste Matters, Mitchell Davis shifts the discussion to restaurant design with architect James Biber. James is the design mind behind such staples as Gotham Bar & Grill and the pop-up restaurant JBF LTD. Tune in to hear them discuss the importance of design as it relates to the success of a restaurant. This episode was sponsored by Fairway Market.

This week on Beer Sessions Radio, Jimmy Carbone has a great group of NYC beer guys including Jim Barnes from Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Jay Steinhauer of American Beer Distributing and Chris O'Leary from Brew York, New York. The crew is also joined by the authors of "Beer for Dummies", Steve Ettlinger & Marty Nachel. Tune in as they chat about everything from "extreme" beer to historic beer and reflect on some of their favorite brews at the moment. Learn more about beer tastings, kosher beer, home brewing and more on the best beer radio show in the world! This program was sponsored by GreatBrewers.com.

"When you do a reference book in the 'dummies' format, your job is largely to ask questions and wonder. I'm a completly befuddled consumer, so I'm a good guy for that job. We also have an obligation to teach the history of beer in this format. It opened up a whole new world for me, I wasn't too familiar with the world on beer when I started this book."

--Steve Ettlinger, co-author of Beer for Dummies on Beer Sessions Radio

"Just because you have a few tables and a concrete patio, that doesn't make you a beer garden."

--Chris O'Leary of Brew York, New York on Beer Sessions Radio