Hollywood heavyweights urge Gov. Davis to sign SB 1736; lawmakers march Thurs.

While farm workers continue their 150-mile, 10-day march to Sacramento, more than 40 prominent entertainment figures–including many of the biggest names in Hollywood–have signed full-page ads in the Thursday editions of Daily Variety and Hollywood Reporter urging Gov. Gray Davis to sign SB 1736, United Farm Workers-sponsored legislation granting farm workers mediation and arbitration to win union contracts when growers drag out negotiations.

Among those signing the "Open Letter to Governor Davis" for SB 1736 are Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand, Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover, Sean Penn, Robin Wright, Ed Asner, Valerie Harper, Steve Bing, James Caan, Jane Kaczmarek, Bradley Whitford, Christina Applegate, Hector Elizondo, Ed Begley Jr., Richard Dreyfuss, Ted Danson, Tom Arnold, Edward James Olmos, Robert Altman, Luis Valdez, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Alexander, Joey Pantoliano, Dana Delaney, Richard Montoya, Wes Craven, Frank Marshall, Frank Pierson, Tommy Schlamme and Betty Thomas.

The signers include leaders of the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America such as SAG President Melissa Gilbert, Secretary Elliott Gould, Treasurer Kent McCord, SAG Vice Presidents Mike Farrell and Esai Morales, Directors Guild Vice Presidents Stephen Soderbergh and Paris Barclay, and Directors Guild board members Taylor Hackford and Michael Apted. The letter to the governor notes California field laborers are among the lowest paid and most exploited workers in the state. It also cites more than $70 million in ongoing yearly state tax breaks for growers while most farm workers get no help from the government to improve their lives.

"We feel very strongly that SB 1736 is a good bill, not only for farm workers but for all the people of California. We hope that you will sign this important measure and we strongly support your doing so," the open letter states. SB 1736, the letter observes, is identical to a law Gov. Davis signed last year providing the same rights to "backstretch" workers at race tracks. (to see the complete letter go to: http://www.ufw.org/hollywood.pdf

Meanwhile, organizers of the UFW’s "March for the Governor’s Signature" released details for Wednesday through Friday–as 10 lawmakers made plans to join the march Thursday afternoon. The trek–led by UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and union co-founder Dolores Huerta–concludes with a Capitol rally on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002—Lodi to Galt
7 a.m. mass, 7:30 a.m. march starts, both at Hale Park, Elm St. & Stockton Ave. in Lodi.
6 p.m. rally at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 950 Lincoln Rd. at Liberty Rd. in Galt.

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002–Galt to Thornton
Friday, Aug. 23, 2002–Thornton to South Sacramento
Saturday, Aug. 24, 2002–South Sacramento to Cesar Chavez Plaza (Sacramento)
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2002–Cesar Chavez Plaza to state Capitol.