In 2008, California voters passed a referendum requiring veal calves, egg-laying hens, and gestating sows to be raised in enclosures spacious enough to allow the animals to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs, and turn around. The legislation, known as Proposition 2, was approved with 63 percent support and was a major victory for animal rights and animal welfare groups.

Unfortunately, Proposition 2 only focused on proscribing certain living conditions — and thus failed to advance the welfare of farmed animals in two major ways. First, and most obviously, it did nothing to ensure that the new conditions were an overall improvement. Second, and most importantly, the statute was silent about the party with the greatest impact on farm animal welfare: the agricultural worker.

This is a common oversight. From the more moderate, free-range-favoring shopper to the radical animal welfare activist, there’s a general disregard for workers’ struggles in these circles.