Join farm workers in lobbying for basic rights on the anniversary of Cesar's passing. Take Action Today!

More than one hundred farm workers will be in Sacramento this Thursday, April 23--on the 16th anniversary of Cesar Chavez’ passing--to lobby to protect themselves from grower abuses.

Farm workers want to tell their legislators about the abuses and safety violations they are forced to deal with on a daily basis. Things like a lack of clean drinking water, shade to protect them from the searing sun, and clean restrooms. They also want breaks that would allow them to use these "luxuries". They want to ask their legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger to give farm workers the tools to help farm workers enforce the laws themselves.

SB789, CA Employee Free Choice Act for Farm Workers (Steinberg), is a bill that will do this. This important bill will make it easier for farm workers to organize and help enforce the laws that California's government cannot enforce.

SB789 will be on the senate floor Thursday afternoon and farm workers will be lobbying in Sacramento to encourage senators to pass this vital bill.

California is currently experiencing a heat wave. Please take action to help the men and women who are in the fields under the sweltering sun working to put food on our tables. Six farm workers died in the summer of 2008—as rules went unenforced and ignored by employers. We need your help to prevent unnecessary deaths from occurring this year.

Below are farm worker stories. Please help these farm workers pressure your senator and CA Governor to pass SB789, a bill that will give farm workers the power to protect themselves.

He [foreman] treats us worse than animals...We don’t have fresh water.
--Juan Negrete, cotton worker

Our water has a mossy smell and bitter taste.
--Ramon Mendoza, irrigation installer

Sometimes full days would go by and they would never bring the bathrooms.
--Pedro Zapien, vegetable worker

The company did not provide shade for us to use.
--Juanita Mendoza, grape worker

I would work all day without taking a break or going for water because I was afraid of getting fired.
--Erika Contreras, farm labor contractor worker

Last year people got sick and people fainted. They had no water and needed breaks.
--Jorge Rodriguez, almond worker


Honor Cesar Chavez’ legacy on the 16th anniversary of his passing by taking action to support this vital bill. Send an e-mail today to your state senator and to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today.