CA Overtime (AB 1066) 2016

Overtime bill a precedent. Victory for farm workers.

United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez issued the following statement from the union’s Keene, Calif. headquarters after Gov. Jerry Brown signed AB 1066 (Gonzalez) ending the 78 years of exclusion from overtime for farm workers.

‎”For 78 years, a Jim Crow-era law discriminated against farm workers by denying us the same overtime rights that other workers benefit from. Here in the U.S. Today, Governor Brown corrected a historic wrong and set an example for other states to follow.

Farm workers have sacrificed and lead this fight. We thank the author Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and legislators who stood up and to the countless activists and civic organizations whose work with the United Farm Workers was instrumental to making this groundbreaking legislation the law of the land in the largest agriculture state in the nation.

Events will take place at UFW offices throughout California tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate this tremendous victory.”

Proyecto de ley de tiempo extra es una precedente. Victoria para los campesinos.

El presidente de La Unión de Campesinos, Arturo S. Rodríguez, emitió la siguiente declaración desde la sede del sindicato en Keene, Calif., después de que el gobernador Jerry Brown firmó el proyecto de ley AB 1066 (González) poniendo fin a 78 años de exclusión de horas extras para los campesinos.

‎”Por 78 años, una ley de la era Jim Crow discriminaba en contra de los campesinos al negarles los mismos derechos de tiempo extra de los cuales otros trabajadores se beneficiaban. Hoy en los EE.UU., el gobernador Brown corrigió un error histórico, y puso el ejemplo para que otros estados hagan lo mismo.

Los campesinos han sacrificado y liderado esta lucha. Agradecemos a la autora y asambleísta Lorena González, los legisladores que resistieron y a los innumerables activistas y organizaciones civiles cuyo trabajo con La Unión de Campesinos fue fundamental para a hacer que esta legislación innovadora sea la ley de la tierra en el estado agrícola más grande de la nación.

Los eventos tendrán lugar mañana a las 6:30 p.m. en las oficinas de la UFW en todo California, para celebrar esta gran victoria”.

UFW President Rodriguez thanks everyone for their help in getting #AB1066 passed.

Presidente de UFW, Arturo S. Rodriguez, le da las gracias a todos por su ayuda en pasar #AB1066

Coming out here, into the fields, working this industry we’re not treated equally as other workers. Being treated equally is something that’s important to me. And these guys the campesinos, my coworkers, they should get treated the same and they should get the same benefits. If they got overtime pay, they would be more appreciated for their hard work because you know you work more than eight hours you don’t get overtime right now. The conditions are tough – these conditions mean sun, rain.We don’t have air conditioning here. And we need to be heard. I’m here to be their voice. I’m here to fight for them. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes to do it. I’m here to do it. We need to speak up for them. A lot of them are afraid. It’s time to not be afraid. It’s time to be heard. — Richard Trujillo, wine grape worker