Latino community reacts with outrage to Governor’s vetoes
Groups unite around vetoes of Trust Act, Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights and farm workers’ heat protection bills
Farm workers, domestic workers, and DREAM students will gather in front of the Ronald Reagan State Building alongside several labor and community organizations to unite against the governor’s vetoes of key legislation to extend protections to the Latino community: the Trust Act, the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights and the farm workers’ heat protection bills. A sheep will also be in attendance to remind Governor Brown that farm animals will continue to have more protections under California law than farm workers.
“It’s unacceptable that immigrants and Latinos in California will continue to live in fear of attacks like Arizona’s SB 1070. It’s appalling that 200,000 domestic workers will continue to work without rest or meal breaks. It’s outrageous when abuse of a farm animal is taken more seriously than abuse of a farm worker. Governor Brown let us down,” says Maria Elena Durazo, the leader of the Los Angeles labor movement.
In California, the “Secure Communities” program has resulted in law enforcement using resources to deport more than 80,000 immigrants for minor and non-violent offenses. Governor Brown vetoed the Trust Act which would have focused efforts around felonies and violent crimes.
Governor Brown vetoed the Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights that would have ended the outdated exclusion of domestic workers from basic labor protections by extending rights such as overtime pay and meal and rest breaks to the childcare providers, housecleaners, and caregivers who care for California’s families and homes.
Governor Brown rejected two farm workers’ heat protections bills: The Humane Treatment for Farm Workers Act that would make it a misdemeanor crime, punishable by jail time and fines, to not provide appropriate water or shade to workers laboring under high heat conditions. The governor also vetoed The Farm Worker Safety Act that would have allowed workers to enforce the state’s heat regulations by suing employers who repeatedly violate the law.
WHAT: Latino groups respond in outrage to Governor’s vetoes of Trust Act, Domestic Workers’ Bill of Rights, Farm Workers Heat Protection Legislation
WHERE: Ronald Reagan State Office Building, 300 South Spring Street
WHEN: Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 11:00AM
WHO: Domestic workers, farm workers, DREAM students
Maria Elena Durazo, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Giev Kashkooli, United Farm Workers
Pablo Alvarado, National Day Laborer Organizing Efforts
Angelica Salas, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
Carlos Amador, Dream Team LA
Speakers will be available in English and Spanish.