Revved Up By Miles of Support, ‘Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Now’ March Continues to Sacramento
By Edgar Sanchez
Special to the UFW
MERCED — Amid the roar of motorcycles, more than 20 farm workers walked into Merced late Wednesday, completing the second day of a 13-day pilgrimage to Sacramento.
As “The Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Now” march reached quiet Merced, the pilgrims were escorted into the city by motorcycle riders from Mi Gente, a Merced bikers’ club.
Like many others along the 200-mile route from Madera to the State Capitol, the bikers displayed their solidarity. The 20-plus farm workers walking all the way to Sacramento were also joined late in the day by nearly 50 other farm laborers and concerned supporters, who marched into Merced with them.
That’s the way it’s been since Tuesday; sympathizers walk a few miles with those going the full distance.
The pilgrimage, organized by the United Farm Workers, seeks to pressure Gov. Jerry Brown to sign two bills: The Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, which would make it easier for farm workers to unionize, and a new bill that would entitle farm workers to overtime pay after 8 hours.
On June 28, Brown vetoed the first bill, saying he was “not yet convinced” it was needed. A modified version of that bill has since been reintroduced in the Legislature. The second measure is also before legislators, in response to the exclusion of farm workers from overtime pay regulations.
“What we want, what we need, is more help for farm workers,” said Alfredo Zamora, of Oxnard, Ventura County, one of the farm workers marching all 200 miles. “We want the governor to do what he can for us.”
This means approving both bills for the benefit of all of California’s 400,000 farm laborers, said Zamora, who considers himself fortunate. He works for California Mushroom Farm, a union company that gave him time off for the epic march.
“Marching 13 days is really hard,” Zamora, 53, said, “but I’m enjoying it.”
UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said the pilgrims have been welcomed everywhere.
“We’ve had tremendous support from people all along the way,” said Rodriguez, who is marching the entire route. “Today, we were served lunch by two different groups. A lady from Le Grand brought us burritos. And we were also served lunch by Guadalupanas (women church members) from Planada,” a town near Merced.
Today, the pilgrims will walk nearly 18 miles from Merced to Livingston. The march will reach the State Capitol on Sept. 4, with thousands of farm workers and their sympathizers expected for a massive rally.
Story by Edgar Sanchez is a former writer for The Sacramento Bee and The Palm Beach Post