As farm workers are currently on strike in Mexico, America urges Mexican Secretary of Labor to continue negotiations with farm workers in Baja California.

International Director of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Cathy Feingold, wrote to Jesus Alfonso Navarrete Prida Saturday urging him to continue the negotiations with the striking agricultural workers.

"On behalf of 12.5 million workers of the AFL-CIO I am writing you to continue dialogue with [the organizations] that represents 80,000 agricultural workers and ensure that the rights of these workers under Mexican law and international conventions are protected," the letter read.

La Alianza and Frente Indigena de Organizaciones Binacionale are working together in demanding an increase in wages for farm workers and the termination of CTM and CROC contracts that have led to violations of their rights.

According to the letter, "protection contracts" are a serious threat to freedom of association and democratic collective bargaining in Mexico.

Workers in Baja California also known as San Quintin, have been denied basic rights that include refusal to pay overtime, sexual harassment, lack of maternity or paternity leave, child labor, discrimination and more.

Members of AFL-CIO urge Secretary Prida to protect the rights of farm workers by ensuring the "effective implementation of Mexican labor laws and the ILO fundamental worker rights."

Feingold also asked for the release of workers arrested in the protest for better work conditions and decent wages.

Leaders of the protests in Mexico have led strikes in different parts of the United States, Los Angeles Times reports.

Fidel Sanchez led a protest in Florida for higher wages from tomato farmers while Justino Herrera led a work stoppage against an abusive labor contractor in Oregon.

The recent labor movement in American agriculture fields in Mexico is the first strike in decades. Workers used to migrate each year north of the border but stricter border security has stopped the migration.

Now tens of thousands of laborers are permanently settled in Baja California and are demanding better working conditions.