AMERICAN LABOUR:

MURDER BY ANOTHER NAME:

The following appeal is from the United Farm Workers of the USA. Over a year since the death of farmworker Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez, previously reported here at Molly's Blog, state officials have finally decided to lay "involuntary manslaughter" charges against officials of the labour contractor by whom she was employed. The UFW are calling for support in pressuring the government of California to pass a bill that will make it easier for farmworkers to organize and actually enforce the laws that are on the books via a strong union presence. Here's their appeal.

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SB789 Passes CA State Senate on Lobby Day. Take the next step.:
Involuntary manslaughter charges were filed today against three top officials of the defunct labor contractor company, Merced Farm Labor, in the case of 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez--who died of a heat stroke last May 16.





The UFW applauds the District Attorney's decision to prosecute this as the crime it was. It never should have happened. An innocent young girl never should have died due to grower indifference. (Click to read Maria’s story.)





However, violations occur every day and nothing is done. Last year five other farm workers died of heat-related causes after Maria's death. Complaints regarding lack of drinking water, shade and work breaks to make use of these simple but lifesaving measures are an everyday occurrence for farm workers. (Click to read farm worker stories.) Farm workers can’t afford to wait until such an audacious violation such as Maria’s finally causes the state to react.





That's why farm workers need this bill that will give then the means to protect themselves. It's why SB789 is so vital. SB789, CA Employee Free Choice Act for Farm Workers (Steinberg) will make it easier for farm workers to organize and help enforce the laws that California's government cannot enforce.





SB789 just passed the California state senate yesterday. It will next be heard in the state assembly and then go to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Please e-mail Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and/or your Assembly members. Tell them to pass SB789, a bill that will give farm workers the power to protect themselves.





Please take action today. Help protect the men and women who are in the fields working under the sweltering sun working to put food on our tables.
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THE LETTER:
Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Assembly.
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Please support SB789, CA Employee Free Choice Act for Farm Workers (Steinberg).




SB789 just passed the senate floor and will next be heard in the assembly. This important bill will make it easier for farm workers to organize and enforce the laws that California's government is not enforcing.





Farm workers are forced to deal with abuses and safety violations on a daily basis. Things like a lack of clean drinking water, shade to protect them from the searing sun, and clean restrooms. It's time for these abuses to end.





Just this week, involuntary manslaughter charges were filed today against three top officials of the defunct labor contractor company, Merced Farm Labor, in the case of 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez--who died of a heat stroke last May 16. I applaud the District Attorney's decision to prosecute this as the crime it was. It never should have happened.
However, last year five other farm workers died of heat-related causes after Maria's death. Farm workers can't afford to wait until such an audacious violation such as Maria's finally causes the state to react.





We need your help to do more to prevent unnecessary deaths from occurring this year. Having laws on the books that often are not enforced is not enough. Please pass SB789, a bill that will give farm workers the power to protect themselves.