Sweatshop Conditions In California.

       Now and again that babbling brook of bullshit, the mainstream media, report on dreadful working conditions in some Eastern sweatshop, but seldom, if ever, on the conditions of those working under similar conditions in the so called Western developed countries. Their finger points east, but we should remember that old movie expression, “Go West young man”. The great food basket of America, California, has some of the worst working condition for agricultural workers any where in the world. An abundance of cheap fruit and veg on the back of appalling conditions suffered by under paid, over worked, abused and harassed workers. Capitalism doesn't recognise east or west, it just sees opportunities to exploit. Profit is king.

This from United Farm Workers: 

 

Should anyone have to go through this?

     The conditions under which many melon pickers in this country work stink. Sometimes literally. Can you help?

Azucena Ordorica has had five years’ experience picking melons in California. Her descriptions of the restrooms near the fields where she has worked are stomach-turning: “The bathrooms were always very dirty,” she says. “When I would open the door, a horrendous smell along with a swarm of flies would come out. The flies were flying and landing all over my body,” she says. “It was horrible.”

    And that’s not the worst of it. According to melon harvester Brenda A. Ruiz, “On occasions bathrooms are not provided.” Brenda also says that “The water that is provided to drink is hot and dirty.” And the bosses find creative ways to take the workers’ meager wages away from them. Brenda reports that she and her co-workers are required to carpool with their supervisors — at a cost of $15 per day!

   Women workers endure special threats and humiliations. Azucena had a particularly traumatic experience with sexual harassment. “On the first day of employment, a supervisor once told me if I had sex with him twice a week, he would make sure I had work for the entire season,” she says. “Since I refused, I was fired.”

People should NOT be subjected to such abuses to support themselves and their families. Cantaloupes and other melon crops bring hundreds of millions of dollars of profit every year to U.S. growers. They can afford to pay their workers better and to ensure that their employees work in safe, sanitary conditions.

     We know it is possible because one exceptional company, Perez Packing Inc. of Firebaugh, California, is working with the UFW to make it happen. We’re currently negotiating with them to give their workers the kind of union contract every farm worker deserves. 

     By sending your contribution today, you’ll allow us to organize at the other melon companies with these horrible abuses. Every donation, regardless of the amount, makes a difference and is greatly appreciated.

https://secure.ufw.org/melons

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The Right To A Union.

    An appeal from United Farm Workers for solidarity in a long hard fought campaign.

Workers are this close to a contract at Gerawan. Please help.

This is an urgent message for you because we don’t have much time. Workers at Gerawan Farming, one of the world’s largest fruit growers, are trying to resolve workplace mistreatment issues with a contract to guarantee fair treatment and wages. And the clock is ticking.

      They voted for a union in 1990 and have negotiated with the company without success. Now, thanks to a law that supporters like you helped us pass eleven years ago, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board has assigned a Mediator to finalize the unresolved issues contained in a contract.

      Workers are close to gaining what they have needed and longed for. They’re asking the ALRB mediator to create a contract that ensures that:

• The company pays workers fairly and counts ALL the hours they work.
• The company provides adequate protection for workers working with TOXIC chemicals.
• The company does not REUSE disposable safety equipment.
• The company STOPS unreasonably pressuring workers.
• The company provides NECESSARY equipment like wheelbarrows for moving fruit.
• The company provides CLEAN bathrooms and GOOD water for drinking.
• The company does not discipline or discharge workers unless there is JUST CAUSE.

       These are just some of the issues workers have raised. You may have seen slick TV ads where Gerawan Farming claims to care about farm workers rights. If so, then why have charges been filed against Gerawan accusing its management of impeding ALRB agents from talking to workers and investigating claims of unlawful actions?

      Maybe it’s because workers don’t feel that their employer is as caring as it tells the public. In fact, Gerawan cares so little about its workers having a contract, that it has filed a lawsuit against the State of California so that that a court can declare that the State Mediation law is unconstitutional, even though a Court of Appeals has already ruled that the law is constitutional. Gerawan has spared no expense, hiring three separate high-priced law firms to represent it in court.

       That’s why we must stand with the workers of Gerawan to help them so Gerawan will implement and respect the contract the State Mediator decides.

     We need your help. Time is very short. Under the State Mediation process, the Mediator could issue his decision by about mid-September. Without your support, Gerawan workers will face the high-priced legal teams of giant agricultural companies alone. Thank you.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk