Farm Workers Deliver Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act
(SB 104) to Gov. Brown June 16
Latino leaders, Labor unions, and supporters launch 12-day campaign in support
SACRAMENTO, CA – Legislation that would make it easier for farm workers to join unions will be delivered to Gov. Jerry Brown on June 16 by hundreds of farm workers from across California. The action kicks off a 12-day campaign, including a fast, to persuade the governor to sign the bill.
At 12:00 noon on June 16, church bells will toll at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament as the procession of men, women and children – accompanied by leaders of organized labor and other supporters — approaches the State Capitol supporting the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, or SB 104.
At Brown’s office the group will hand over the bill, asking that he sign it into law. Farm workers will bring Cesar Chavez’ chair to the Capitol and invite Governor Brown to sit in it when he signs SB 104 into law. The governor will have 12 days to do so.
SB 104, introduced by Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), has been overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature.
It would give California’s 400,000 farm workers an alternative to traditional, on-the-job polling place elections to decide on union representation. Under the new process, farm workers would fill out state-issued ballots in privacy.
At present, many farm workers fear participating in union elections because the secret-ballot process established in 1975 in California has been subverted. Time and again, anti-union employers fire and threaten farm workers who want union representation. And, on election days growers watch farm workers casting their ballots helping ensure a “No Union” vote.
SB 104 would create fundamental fairness, according to supporters of the bill. Majority Sign-up elections would be overseen by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board.
Over 50,000 farm workers have signed “Please Sign SB 104” postcards. Postcards will be delivered to Governor Brown.
The delegation delivering SB 104 to the governor will include relatives of Maria Isavel Vasquez Jimenez, the 17-year-old Lodi farm worker who died of heatstroke on May 16, 2008 after she was denied sufficient shade and water on a farm east of Stockton.
Her fiancé, Florentino Bautista, who worked alongside Maria Isavel, will be among those present, along with survivors of several other California farm workers who met heat-related deaths in recent years.
At 5 p.m. on June 16, farm workers and their SB 104 supporters will begin a fast of up to 12 days at a downtown Sacramento location to be announced. Participants will rotate, fasting for 24 hours at a time while praying for the bill’s enactment.
Dozens of Latino organizations, as well as labor unions, support SB 104. A full list of supporters will be released soon.
In all, more than 50 churches across California will toll their bells at 12:00 noon on June 16 to show solidarity with farm workers, about 800 of whom are expected in the State Capitol that day.
WHAT: Farm workers deliver SB 104 to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature.
WHEN: Starting at 12:00 noon on June 16, 2011.
WHERE: Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament (1017 11th Street) to Governor’s office in the State Capitol
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