License Reinstatement Slap in the Face to the
Memory of Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez
BAKERSFIELD – The move by Cal OSHA to reinstate Merced Farm Labor’s license is an unconscionable act that not only endangers the lives of farm workers but also sends the message that violating the state’s heat regulation law is permissible.
“Merced Farm Labor should not be allowed to operate under any circumstances,” said UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez. “One month ago the Governor issued a statement saying ‘Employers or labor contractors who do not comply with the heat illness prevention standards will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.’ But at this moment his words are meaningless. It defies all reason why the state would allow Merced Farm Labor to operate again.”
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