Hundreds of Farmworkers Gather in Wilson to Organize, Learn Their Rights, and Build Community

An incredible workers’ assembly

On September 27, more than 200 farmworkers from across North Carolina filled a hall in Wilson for El Futuro Es Nuestro / It’s Our Future’s 2026 Workers’ Assembly. Thank you to everyone who drove, volunteered, and showed up.

This issue of our newsletter shares the highlights of the assembly, plus recent news coverage of the fight over H-2A wages and heat. Also, save the date for our end-of-year celebration: Friday, December 4th at 5pm in Durham! And finally, don’t forget to VOTE!

Why we gather

Our members live in isolated labor camps with little transportation and few days off. The Assembly is a rare chance for workers to come together to learn about the laws that affect them, discuss problems in the fields, give feedback to the EFEN/IOF leadership about the organization’s direction, and build community.

We are thrilled that more than 200 farmworkers from across North Carolina attended! Workers cheered for their home states in Mexico when our emcee, DJ La Costena, opened with a roll call of members from Nayarit, Durango, Veracruz and beyond.

“$11.15 - No good. Respect - Yes, bueno!”

The big theme was action. This year, the Trump administration cut the H-2A wage rate by about 30%, from over $16 an hour in 2025 to just over $11 in 2026. Workers are not happy, and they’re ready to fight back.

EFEN/IOF leaders designed and printed a new T-shirt to say so, and everyone put it on right away, an early commitment to join the fight against the wage cuts. That’s why you’ll see the same shirt in every photo!

Thank you drivers & volunteers!

Because most farmworkers have no transportation, our meetings are only successful when volunteers show up, spending their day driving out to rural labor camps to pick up workers and then driving them back home afterwards. Thank you to every driver and volunteer who got workers to Wilson and kept the day running smoothly. We couldn’t do it without you.

Farmworker-led, start to finish

Our newly elected board chaired the meeting. EFEN/IOF rotates board seats and builds new leadership every two years, so this is our third board. Current and past leaders wore darker green shirts so newer members knew who to ask for advice.

Past President Marino Antonio then reviewed our four-year history and 2025 achievements, including:

• The first phases of our cooperative farm, plus plans for emergency housing and an office on our Nash County land

• Over $100,000 in stolen wages won back for workers

• Political education and organizing in Mexico and the U.S.

• Regular meetings in Mexico, North Carolina, and on WhatsApp

Voting to take action

Members shared stories of collective action that won raises on farms, even during the wage cuts. Leaders also discussed joining May Day 2028 efforts.

Then EFEN/IOF activists led a discussion on creative ways to pressure employers and officials in the U.S. and Mexico over wages and corruption in the H-2A program. The Assembly voted to take ongoing action on both. Stay tuned!

Know your rights: the lawsuit and workers’ comp

Attorney Lori Johnson of Farmworker Justice joined us to explain the legal challenge to the wage cuts. A judge has ruled the cuts unlawful, but wages have not gone up yet. Workers discussed how they can support the legal effort and what direct action they can take to raise wages.

As part of our No More Deaths campaign, workers’ compensation attorney Jacob Goad of the Law Offices of Jacob Goad, a longtime friend of the movement, led a training on protecting ourselves and making sure injuries and illnesses are compensated without retaliation.

This article was created from excerpts of the EFEN October Newsletter.