Settlement announced for Kern County farm worker whose death inspired Gov. Schwarzenegger to issue heat reg.
Two children of a Kern County farm worker whose 2005 death from extreme heat helped convince Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to issue the first state regulation in the nation to prevent heat illness will receive a $160,00 death benefit or payments of $448 every two weeks until the youngest child reaches age 18 under a settlement to be announced Friday in Bakersfield.
Announcing the settlement at an 11 a.m. news conference Friday at Radio Campesina studios in Bakersfield will be Robert F. Perez, attorney for the family of Constantino Cruz Hernandez, United Farm Workers Regional Director Armando Elenes and Pulicarpio Osorio, brother of Cruz Hernandez’s widow.
Constantino Cruz Hernandez, 24, was one of four Central Valley farm workers—three in Kern County—who died in July 2005 of exposure to extreme heat. Cruz Hernandez was working for a farm labor contractor in a tomato field near Shafter on July 21, 2005. The conveyor pulled by a tractor on which he was placing tomatoes was running too quickly, forcing workers to labor at a fast pace in temperatures of more than 100 degrees. Cruz Hernandez was admitted to Kern Medical Center after he was stricken, but was released the next day. At home he collapsed, his heart stopped and he was pronounced dead at a Delano hospital on July 31, 2005.
On Aug. 2, 2005, members of the Cruz Hernandez family joined Gov. Schwarzenegger and UFW President Arturo Rodriguez at a state Capitol news conference where the landmark state head regulation was announced.
Who: Family of Constantino Cruz Hernandez, attorney Robert F. Perez, UFW Regional Director Armando Elenes.
What: Announcing death benefit settlement for the family of a Kern County farm worker whose 2005 death from the heat helped convince Gov. Schwarzenegger to issue the nation’s first state regulation to help prevent heat deaths and illnesses.
When: 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 6, 2006.
Where: Radio Campesina conference room, 6313 Schirra Ct., Bakersfield 93313.
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