LA Labor Movement Announces $30,000 Food
Donation to Aid Displaced Farm Workers
Catastrophic Freeze Leaves Thousands Without Work
(Los Angeles) – The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO held a press conference today to announce their contribution of $30,000 worth of non-perishable food items that will go to an estimated 28,000 farm workers who are jobless due to the citrus freeze disaster that has swept the Central Valley. The food will be delivered today from Los Angeles to Porterville, courtesy of the Teamsters International Union and Teamsters Local 63. Workers from IATSE Local 44, SEIU Local 6434 and IAM District Lodge 947 have all volunteered countless hours to help with the food allocation.
“The Los Angeles Labor Movement recognizes that in order to lift others out of poverty and into the middle class we must help each other when most in need. That includes national disasters.” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. “Today’s contribution to aid our farm workers in the Central Valley speaks to this commitment by Los Angeles working families.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 18 California counties disaster areas, including Tulare and Kern. They estimate that this freeze has caused more than $800 million in damages to citrus crops. Just as devastating, is that thousands of farm workers relied on picking these crops for their livelihood. According to published reports, the number of jobless claims is increasing by 500 a day.
“With every fruit that froze, so did the life of a farm worker,” said United Farm Worker President Arturo Rodriguez. “Last month’s freezing temperatures left thousands jobless, the UFW is proud to partner with organizations to work toward helping farm workers and their families when they need it most.”
The United Farm Workers have established a relief fund for the workers that have been impacted by this freeze. Monetary donations can be made to:
Citrus Freeze Relief Fund
C/O UFW Foundation Accounting
PO Box 62
Keene, Ca 93531
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is the chartered Central Labor Council (CLC) of the AFL-CIO in Los Angeles County. Through its various departments, the Federation represents working men and women in forming coalitions with community partners as well as serving as the coordinating center for labor’s political activity to rebuild the Los Angeles middle class. With over 350 affiliated unions representing over 845,000 workers, the Federation is one of the largest CLC’s in the country.