Colorado Farmworker Struggles with Unemployment Requirements

Colorado Farmworker Struggles with Unemployment Requirements

A farmworker asks for assistance from a promotora after receiving a letter regarding his unemployment benefits

Diane Mendez

December 2021

Delanee Taylor

Anonymous Farmworker

Farmworker

Otero County, Southeast

This story comes from the Otero County in the Southeast region of Colorado and centers around the issues of unemployment for agricultural workers. Promotora Diane Mendez received a phone call mid-December from one of their regular farm workers. He explained to her that he recently left the state to return to Mexico for the upcoming holiday, and he needed her help to understand a letter that he received about his unemployment. After reading the letter, Diane learned that for the worker to continue receiving benefits, then he would have to take a certain training class. This was highly upsetting for the worker because this training class would mean that he must return home from his trip earlier than expected. Additionally, he was worried about the course because he does not read or write in English, and he told Diane that all he knows is labor work. The worker asked Diane to call unemployment on his behalf to explain his situation, and when she did, they explained that it was a requirement and could not be skipped. In the end, the situation was not entirely resolved, but Diane ensured that the worker would be provided with an interpreter throughout the training class.