UFCW Intl. Pres. Hansen joins hundreds of farm workers at state Capitol for seventh straight day
Sacramento, Calif.—United Food and Commercial Workers International President Joe Hansen on Wednesday becomes the latest national leader to join farm workers at the state Capitol as part of the United Farm Workers’ campaign for SB 104, the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act by state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). Hansen will be with 250 farm workers and UFW President Arturo Rodriguez on the seventh straight day of their state Capitol vigil.
SB 104 would give farm workers the choice of traditional workplace polling place balloting or confidential state-issued ballots to be filled out in privacy at home. All public employees were extended card-check voting rights in 1999.
On Thursday, Cesar Chavez’s brother and sister, Richard Chavez and Rita Chavez Medina, and UFW Co-Founder Dolores Huerta will travel to Sacramento to join the fast. Also fasting on Thursday will be state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), author of SB 104. On Friday, Latino elected officials from across California will be at the farm worker vigil.
Among those participating in a chain fast for SB 104 are original farm labor law author U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry, state Controller John Chiang, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, L.A. County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo, former San Jose Vice Mayor and South Bay Central Labor Council executive officer Cindy Chavez, former White House Chief of Staff Maria Echaveste, Assemblymembers Alejo, Lara, Hueso, Yamada, Monning and Blumenfield, and other local elected officials and farm workers. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is planning a special event for the bill in Los Angeles on Friday.