On Monday, a group of union leaders and Latino lawmakers from across California released a public document in which they urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign Law 2183 by Friday, Sept. and no revenge.
“For a generation of Latino leaders, there is no more personal, inspirational or urgent struggle than the struggle of rural workers,” the letter said. Workers in the predominantly Hispanic agricultural state of California have been fighting since Aug. 3, when they marched from Delano to the state capitol in a 24-day march. The trip was to ask Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 2183, which would allow farm workers to vote during union elections. Stay informed on the most relevant topics in politics, the economy, the Latino community, and health. Subscribe to our newsletter here.
An exhausting day. Protesters were warmly welcomed in all the cities they passed. In addition to participating in marches, supporters of the movement have provided farmers with food, energy drinks and medical supplies. Theresa Romero, president of the American Farm Workers Federation, described the bill as allowing workers to vote in union elections from home and by mail. There will be no signature.
On Aug. 26, the day protesters were supposed to arrive at the California Capitol, the governor’s office said he would not sign the bill in its current form, and negotiations continued. For the 29 days since the farm workers and their supporters arrived, they have been parked outside the Capitol, hoping to get the governor’s attention. To date, the project has not been signed.
California is one of the states with the largest number of Hispanic residents, with 15.5 million Hispanics in the area, or about 40 percent, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in August 2021. Global U.S. jobs site Indeed estimates that migrant workers make up 73 percent of the U.S. agricultural workforce.
Agricultural opportunities have increased due to the modernization of the temporary H-2A visa program, and sometimes many of these workers are undocumented. Unions argue that having union representation in the countryside minimizes the chances of exploitation or modern slavery.
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