AMERICAN LABOUR:

PUTTING THE HEAT ON ARNIE:

Despite a seemingly never ending stream of platitudes from the government of California farmworkers continue to die every year at a very unfortunate frequency. Here's an appeal from the United Farm Workers, asking you to put the heat on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for action that really works to prevent these tragedies.

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Rhetoric is not enough to protect farm workers from the heat:
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s Cal-OSHA has announced today that they are kicking off a campaign to train employers to protect farm workers from the heat. Ironically, the same agency just proposed changes that actually undermine the current regulations aimed to protect workers from dying or becoming ill from extreme heat.

Teaching growers how to avoid illness and deaths among their workforce is important, but it’s not enough. At the same time, the governor must make sure the laws are enforced. Such a system surely includes giving farm workers the tools to protect themselves.

For the past four years, the United Farm Workers has worked tirelessly to prevent heat deaths. In response to pressure from the UFW and their supporters, Gov. Schwarzenegger issued heat regulations. Despite these regulations, six farm workers died in the summer of 2008—as the rules went unenforced and ignored by employers.

The evidence points to neglect--not ignorance--as the cause of farm worker deaths. Also, the state's consistent reduction of fines for violations has made these regulations ineffective. Please take action today and help us tell the governor that more of the same will not prevent deaths. Farm workers need a system that works. This requires a multi-faceted approach which would include: enforcing existing laws, giving farm workers the tools to protect themselves, and seeking serious criminal penalties for those whose gross negligence has caused the death of innocent people.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Since you have been governor, 15 farm workers' deaths have been investigated as heat-related. This is simply unacceptable. Your state agency, Cal-OSHA, has just announced that they are kicking off a campaign to train employers to protect farm workers from the heat. Teaching growers how to avoid illness and deaths among their workforce is important, but it's not enough.
More of the same will not prevent deaths. Farm workers need a system that works. This requires a multi-faceted approach which would include: enforcing existing laws, giving farm workers the tools to protect themselves, and seeking serious criminal penalties for those whose gross negligence has caused the death of innocent people.

For the past four years, the United Farm Workers has worked tirelessly to prevent heat deaths among farm workers. In 2006, you issued new heat regulations. However despite these regulations, six farm workers died in the summer of 2008--as the rules went unenforced and ignored by the employers.

The evidence points to neglect--not ignorance--as the cause of farm worker deaths. In addition, the state's consistent reduction of fines for violations has rendered these regulations ineffective. After last summer's death of 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez you said, "Maria's death should have been prevented, and all Californians must do everything in their power to ensure no other worker suffers the same fate." You promised to "work together in California to prevent this from happening to anyone else." Your enforcement has not saved lives. And your administration has not "rigorously enforced" the law.

In May 2008, 17-year old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died of heat illness, working for Merced Farm Labor. The Associated Press reported that the state ignored collecting the fine on Merced Farm Labor for not complying with heat regulations back in 2006. Worse, the state also did not perform follow-up inspections. Consequently, young Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died while working at a company that provided no shade, did not have adequate water, and had no emergency plan in place. All due to the same type of negligence Cal-OSHA had fined the same company for in 2006. After Maria Isabel's death, you boasted that enforcement was at its highest level. Yet sadly, the lives of five more farm workers were lost this past summer.

It's time to stop talking and to start taking action.