GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE
ASSEMBLY, LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
COMMITTEE. INFORMATIONAL HEARING
ON THE LACK OF LABOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT'S FOR CALIFORNIA
FARM WORKERS. WITH ME TODAY ARE
COMMITTEE MEMBER ASSEMBLY MEMBER
ARAMBULA AND THROUGHOUT THIS
HEARING, SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS
WILL BE COMING IN AND OUT. UM WE
HAVE A LOT GOING ON TODAY. BUT
ON THE DIET SHOULD BE
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S EARLY WAR. THE
BURR AND ALAN EASE. ASSEMBLY
MEMBER SORIA AND SENATOR CORTEZ
E. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY TO DISCUSS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT AND TIMELY TOPIC. OUR
HEARING TODAY WILL BE LIVE
STREAMED ON THE ASSEMBLY'S
WEBSITE. I'D ALSO LIKE TO
MENTION THAT ARE HEARING WILL BE
TRANSLATED BY TWO INTERPRETERS
JOINING US TODAY. DRAINER
RODRIGUEZ AND STEPHANIA AVALOS.
THEY WILL BE PROVIDING
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION.
FROM ENGLISH TO SPANISH AND FOR
SPANISH SPEAKERS IN ATTENDANCE.
CONSECUTIVE INTERPRETATION FROM
SPANISH TO ENGLISH FOR PANELISTS
AND PUBLIC COMMENTERS. TODAY'S
HEARING FOCUSES ON THE FAILURE
OF STATE AGENCIES TO
MEANINGFULLY AND FORCED LABOR
LAWS. AND PROTECT
UNDERREPRESENTED FROM WORKERS.
AGRICULTURAL WORK. IS AMONG THE
MOST DANGEROUS WORK IN THE
UNITED STATES. FARM WORKERS. ARE
35 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF
HEAT RELATED INJURIES THAT IN
OTHER ANY OTHER INDUSTRIES. IN
ADDITION, THESE WORKERS
EXPERIENCED HIGH RATES OF
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS. FARM
WORKERS ARE ALSO SUBJECTED TO
WAGE AND HOUR VIOLATIONS. AND
EMPLOYERS. USE BOTH THEIR
UNDOCUMENTED STATUS AND STATUS
AS MONOLINGUAL SPANISH SPEAKERS
TO INTIMIDATE AND DISCOURAGE
THEM FROM US 13 THE BASIC RIGHTS
TIMELY AND FULL PAYMENT OF HOURS
WORKED. FEAR OF DEPORTATION IS
VERY REAL AND WHITE SPREAD.
DESPITE. THESE RECOGNIZED HEALTH
AND SAFETY ISSUES AND PERSISTENT
LABOR ABUSES. AND DESPITE YEARS
I WANTED TO REPEAT THAT YEARS.
OF HISTORIC BUDGET SURPLUSES.
THEY'RE WELL BEING. AND WRITES,
A FARM WORKERS HAVE BEEN LEFT
LARGELY UNENFORCED. MUCH OF THE
DATA. AND TESTIMONY. STORIES WE
WILL BE REVIEWING TODAY WILL BE
FROM TIMES. A BUDGET SURPLUS.
ENSURING THAT WORKERS CAN SAFELY
DO THEIR JOBS AND ENJOY BASIC
LABOR RIGHTS MUST BE AND WILL BE
A PRIORITY OF THIS COMMITTEE. I
SEE OUR DISCUSSION TODAY AS PART
OF A BROADER PROCESS. TO
IDENTIFY THE GAPS IN THE STATES.
ENFORCEMENT OF MANY CRITICAL
LABOR LAWS FOR FARM WORKERS AND
OTHER WORKERS WHO ARE
UNREPRESENTED. SO THAT WE CAN
MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CREATE A
MORE EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK FOR
PROTECTING THESE ESSENTIAL
WORKERS. TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM
FOUR PANELS MADE UP OF FARM
WORKERS. RESEARCHERS GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS AND THE ADVOCATE.
AFTER EACH PANEL WILL HAVE SOME
TIME FOR MEMBERS TO ASK
QUESTIONS. AT THE END OF THE
HEARING. WE WILL TAKE PUBLIC
COMMENTS. NOW. I WANT TO ADD ONE
MORE THING. I WANT TO STATE WHEN
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING
TODAY. WHAT? I DON'T WANT TO
HEAR. IT IS. WHY STATE AGENCIES
FAILURES. HAPPEN DURING A TIME
OF SURPLUS. I DON'T WANT STATE
AGENCY FAILURES TO BE
CONVENIENTLY WHITEWASHED BY THE
CURRENT BUDGET DEFICIT. LET'S
REMEMBER, AS I STATED AT THE
BEGINNING. MANY OF THE STORIES
AND THE DATA THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE HAD
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
SURPLUSES. IF I HEAR THAT AND
ANYONE'S TESTIMONY, OUR
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO STOP.
AND TALK TO ME ABOUT REAL
RECOMMENDATIONS. AND IF THERE
ARE OTHER FACTUAL DISPUTES I
WILL ENCOURAGE OUR COMMITTEE TO
SEEK ASSISTANCE. FOR ME. THEY'RE
BOTH THE STATE AUDITOR. OR THE
LEGISLATIVE ANALYSTS. WITH THAT.
I WILL ASK OUR FIRST PANEL WHO'S
ALREADY SEATED HERE. AND
INTRODUCE THEM. OUR FIRST PANEL
WILL TALK ABOUT THE HAZARDS. THE
WAGE STAFF AND THE THREATS OF
RETALIATION BASED BY FARM
WORKERS. SPEAKING WILL BE DR ED
FLORES. FACULTY DIRECTOR OF THE
UC MERCED LABOR CENTER. I,
THOUGH PLATEN, A FARM WORKER
WITH THE CENTRAL BINATIONAL
PARALLEL PARA EL DESARROLLO
INDIGENOUS OAXACAN Ó. OR C B, D
I O CECILIA PEREZ, FARM WORKER
WITH THE U. F W AND DR SARAH
MARTINEZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
CBD. I Ó EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE
FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH AN
ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES FOR
TRANSLATION. YOU MAY GO.
OKAY THANK YOU TO THE CALIFORNIA
ASSEMBLY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRESENT TESTIMONY ON THE BEHALF
OF THE UC MERCED COMMUNITY AND
LABOR CENTER. AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS ARE ESSENTIAL TO
MAINTAINING THE FOOD SUPPLY BUT
FACE MANY HAZARDS AND WORKPLACE
VIOLATIONS. AGRICULTURAL WORKERS
ARE LARGELY IMMIGRANT,
NONCITIZEN AND UNDOCUMENTED,
HAVE HISTORICALLY FACED GREAT
BARRIERS TO UNIONIZATION, AND
THESE DYNAMICS HAVE ENABLED
EMPLOYER NONCOMPLIANCE WITH
LABOR LAWS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS HAVE
HISTORICALLY EXPERIENCED AMONG
THE LEAST WORK PROTECTIONS IN
THE NATION. CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE WAS
MODELED UPON THE SOUTHERN
PLANTATION. AND WHEN THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT AND
THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT
ESTABLISHED MODERN DAY WORKERS
STANDARDS THE ONLY TWO WORKER
GROUPS EXCLUDED FROM THOSE
PROTECTIONS OR AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS AND DOMESTIC WORKERS.
JOBS WERE SOUTHERN BLACK WORKERS
CONCENTRATED TO THIS DAY. THESE
GROUPS DON'T HAVE THE SAME
FEDERAL PROTECTIONS FOR
UNIONIZATION, COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING OR WHICH IN OUR
STANDARDS THESE EXCLUSIONS WERE
CREATED TO PRESERVE A CASTE
SYSTEM, AND THEY NOW AFFECT A
LARGELY LATINO IMMIGRANT
POPULATION. THAT OFTEN LACKS THE
SAME FORMAL RIGHTS AS CITIZENS.
AT THE SAME TIME IN RECENT
DECADES, CALIFORNIA HAS PASSED
SEVERAL STANDARDS FOR
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS THAT HAVE
GREATER PROTECTIONS THAN FEDERAL
STANDARDS. THESE INCLUDE THE
CALIFORNIA HEAT STANDARD
WILDFIRE SMOKE STANDARD AND
MINIMUM WAGE AND OVERTIME
PROTECTIONS. NONETHELESS AS WE
WILL SHARE TODAY, THE EVIDENCE
INDICATES THAT COMPLIANCE WITH
THESE HIGHER STANDARDS IS
LACKING. TODAY WE'LL BE SHARING
FINDINGS FROM THE UC MERCED FARM
WORKER HEALTH STUDY. UM WE'D
LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH FOR SPONSORING THE STUDY.
UM. THE FARMWORKER COMMUNITY
ADVISORY BOARD AND TWO CLINICS
CONDUCTED 1242 INTERVIEWS WITH
FARM WORKERS 2 TO 4 HOURS IN
LENGTH IN SIX DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES ACROSS FIVE CALIFORNIA
REGIONS BETWEEN AUGUST OF 2021
IN JANUARY OF 2022. THE PROFILE
OF AN AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, ONE
OF ECONOMIC AND CLASS
DISADVANTAGE. MOST FARM WORKERS
ARE LATINO, FOREIGN BORN NON
CITIZEN AND 59% UNDOCUMENTED.
THE MEDIAN AGRICULTURAL WORKER
EARNS WORKS 40 HOURS PER WEEK
AND EARNS VERY LOW WAGES.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN
COMMUNITY SURVEY. MEDIAN
EARNINGS ARE $21,915 PER YEAR.
IN OUR SURVEY, WE FOUND MORE
THAN TWO OF THREE WORKERS WORK
FOR CONTRACTORS RATHER THAN
DIRECTLY FOR GROWERS. MORE THAN
ONE IN FIVE TRAVELED AT LEAST 75
MILES FOR WORK AT SOME POINT IN
THE PAST YEAR. MORE THAN ONE IN
THREE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, SELF
REPORTED HEALTH STATUS AS FAIR
OR POOR. A VERY HIGH RATE MORE
THAN THREE TIMES THAT OF THE
GENERAL WORKING AGE POPULATION.
42% OF FARM WORKERS REPORTED.
SELF REPORTED HAVING BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH AT LEAST ONE
CHRONIC CONDITION. THE MOST
COMMON CHRONIC CONDITIONS WERE
DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION AND ASTHMA. EVIDENCE
INDICATES HEAT RELATED DEATHS
MAY BE GREATLY UNDERCOUNTED. AN
ANALYSIS PUBLISHED AN INSIDE
CLIMATE NEWS FOUND THAT FROM
2018 TO 2020 TO 168, CALIFORNIA
FARM WORKERS DIED SUDDENLY ON
THE JOB, AND THAT NEARLY HALF OF
THOSE DEATHS OCCURRED WITHIN ONE
DAY OF WHETHER THERE WAS OVER 80
DEGREES. OUR FINDINGS INDICATE
SOME AMOUNT OF EMPLOYER
NONCOMPLIANCE WITH WAGE AND HOUR
PROVISIONS. 19% OF RESPONDENTS
SAID. AT SOME POINT, THEY WERE
NOT PAID WAGES OUT TO THEM BY AN
EMPLOYER. 15% SAID THEY WERE
PAID ALL OR PART IN CASH. 15%
SAID THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAID 10 MINUTE
REST BREAKS UNDER STATE LAW. OUR
STUDY ALSO INDICATES TROUBLING
RATES OF EMPLOYER NONCOMPLIANCE
WITH WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
STANDARDS. 43% SAID. THERE WAS
NEVER A WRITTEN HEAT ILLNESS
PLAN POSTED AT THEIR WORKPLACE.
EVEN THOUGH SUCH PLANS ARE
MANDATED. WHEN ASKED ABOUT
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT NEEDED BUT LACKING FOR
WORK. 32% SAID THAT WHEN
RESPIRATORS WERE NEEDED, THEY
WERE ALWAYS LACKING. 25% OF
THOSE. UH WHO WORKED APPLYING
PESTICIDES REPORTED THEY DID NOT
RECEIVE ANY TRAINING ON THE USE
OF PESTICIDES. AND I APOLOGIZE
BECAUSE I FORGOT TO TELL THE
SLIDESHOW TO ADVANCE. UM NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. CALIFORNIA
FARMWORKERS LARGELY LACK
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS. WHEN WE
ASKED ABOUT QUALIFYING FOR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WHICH IS
A PROXY FOR LEGAL STATUS, ONLY
FOUR IN 10 FARM WORKERS SAID
THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR SUCH
BENEFITS. IN ADDITION, MOST
RESPONDENTS EXPRESSED THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF FEAR WHEN ASKED
HOW OFTEN THEY WORRY ABOUT
FAMILY SEPARATION DUE TO
DEPORTATION. SO THE LAST SECOND
TO LAST POINT I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE BECAUSE OF THE WAR.
WANNA UH, FARM THAT JUST CLOSED
DOWN. THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT AN
ESTIMATED 5 TO 10,000 FARM
WORKERS LOSING THEIR JOBS AGAIN.
FOUR AND ONLY FOUR IN 10. FARM
WORKERS SAID THEY QUALIFY FOR
BENEFITS. FINALLY FARM
CALIFORNIA FARM WORKERS LACK OF
CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS HAVE
CONSEQUENCES FROM PLEURA
COMPLIANCE WITH LABOR STANDARDS.
WHEN ASKED IF THEY WOULD REPORT
EMPLOYER COMPLIANCE THAT THEY
WITNESSED MORE THAN 31 AND THREE
FARM WORKERS SAID THEY WOULD BE
UNWILLING TO REPORT NON
COMPLIANCE. NEARLY TWO AND THREE
OF THOSE PERSONS SAID THEY WOULD
BE UNWILLING TO HAVE TO FILE A
REPORT DUE TO FEAR OF
RETALIATION, SUCH AS OURS
REDUCTION. JOB LOSS OR
DEPORTATION. OUR REPORT ENDS
WITH SEVERAL SEVERAL POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS. MANY VIRTUAL
HERE TODAY AND THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALIGNED WITH
RECENT SHIFTS IN STATE POLICY
AND EMERGING INITIATIVES. WE
RECOMMEND INVESTING IN PUBLIC
RESOURCES FOR PROTECTING
WORKERS' RIGHTS, LIKE EDUCATION
AND ENFORCEMENT. HIGH ROAD
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, LIKE
THE USDA IS FARM LABOR
STABILIZATION PROTECTION PILOT
PROGRAM AND INCREASING ACCESS TO
THE ECONOMIC AND HEALTHCARE
SAFETY NET, SUCH AS THE SAFETY
NET FOR ALL INITIATIVE. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. UM AGAIN. I JUST
WANT TO REMIND WE HAVE FOUR
PANELS TODAY. I KNOW IT'S A LOT
TO CAPTURE IN FIVE MINUTES. UH
AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO BE
THE ONE TO INTERRUPT, SO LET'S
TRY TO STICK TO THE FIVE MINUTES
OF POSSIBLE YOU'LL HEAR A ARE WE
HAVE A DEEP UP HERE IF YOU CAN
HEAR IT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE
A RADIO PATTERN FARMWORKER, THE
CENTRAL NATIONAL ARROYO IN THE.
SO UM, WE HAVE A CHANGE OF
WORKER SO HE COULDN'T MAKE IT,
BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER OF OUR
MEMBERS, LEADERS. CAN YOU PLEASE
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?
IT'S A NUMBER ARE YOU, LAURA? SO
YOU'RE RIGHT. GIVE IT UNION,
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA CATCHING OR
YOU'RE EQUAL. TÂM. NO UNION
COMBO QUICK. RUNJE. TO COR YET
TO BE SEEN ANYA SENIOR DISCOUNTS
ON. HMM AND OVER TIME, THIS
BORRADOR EFFECTIVE OR WATCH
HAVING AND. MM. CHANGING CHAPPIE
WEAVING AND. AND THE UM YEAH
SESSION THAN ME AND THE AND THE
RECORD.
HELLO MY NAME IS SYMMETRY
ABANDON. I HAVE BEEN
AGRICULTURAL FIELD WORKER FOR 16
YEARS HERE IN PRISON IN
CALIFORNIA. AND I HAVE DONE
PERFORM DIFFERENT. UM JOB
ACTIVITIES. I'VE BEEN PRUNING,
UM, GREAT RYAN'S HERE IN THE
VALLEY. AND A LOT OF THE TIMES
WHEN WE DO COMPLETE OUR 40 HOURS
. UM, WE DO PIECE WORK. BUT THEY
WON'T PAY US FOR LUNCH BREAK OR
SOMETIMES WILL WORK OVERTIME ON
SATURDAYS AND INSTEAD OF PAYING
US FOR OUR OVERTIME, THEY WILL
PAY US IN CASH. UH THIS IS WHEN
WE'RE DOING PIECEWORK BY WORKING
BY CONTRACT. AND IF WE DON'T
MEET THE CONTRACT DID WORK. IF
WE DON'T MEET THE DAILY
REQUIREMENTS, THEY WILL PAY. UM
IT APPEARS FOR LESS HOURS AND WE
ACTUALLY WORKED. THEY'LL PAY YOU
67 HOURS FOR THE EIGHT HOURS
THAT WILL WORK. AND THEN THE
OTHER THING. IS IF WE DON'T MEET
ANY REQUIREMENTS. UM WE'LL CHECK
OUR PAY STUBS, AND WE'LL KNOW
THAT UM THAT THEY'RE NOT PAYING
US, RIGHT? THE OTHER, UM. WAGE
STEP THAT WE'RE HAVING IN OUR
JOB IS UM, WE'RE NOT SEEING THE
EMPLOYERS PAY US. UM FOR THE
WORK THAT WE'RE PERFORMING. THE
OTHER IS JOB CONDITIONS. UH,
RIGHT NOW. THE RESTROOMS
SOMETIMES ARE UNCLEAN OR THE
WATER THAT THEY PROVIDE US TO
DRINK IS DIRTY. IT'S UH, START
THIS FAST FROM THE SINK. UM IT'S
NOT CLEAN WATER TO DRINK. AND
SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT. UM,
SUFFICIENT SHAPE FOR US ALL.
THANK YOU. JUST IF YOU'RE
WONDERING, YOU'VE HEARD MIXED
ECO, UM AS THEY WERE SPEAKING IN
THE DINNERS, LANGUAGE FROM
EITHER FROM OAXACA OR GET IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE WERE
WONDERING THANK YOU FOR THAT. I
WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
ASSEMBLY MEMBER, BERMAN, LEE AND
COLONIES FOR JOINING US DURING
THIS HEARING. NEXT. WE HAVE
CECILIA PEREZ FOR U F W
FARMWORKER. HELLO MY NAME IS
ANTONIO, DELAWARE. A AND I'M
HERE ON BEHALF THE UNITED FARM
WORKERS. I'LL BE INTRODUCING,
UH, CECILIA AND TRANSLATING FOR
HER JUST VERY BRIEFLY IN THE U.
S W WE HAVE A SAYING THE LAWS ON
THE BOOKS ARE NOT THE LAWS IN
THE FIELDS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 20
27,820 COVID 19 RELATED
WORKPLACE SAFETY COMPLAINTS WERE
DEEMED VALID BY CAL OSHA. BUT
THIS RESULTED IN ONLY 627
INSPECTIONS AND ONLY 32
CITATIONS. ANOTHER STUDY FOUND
THAT LATINO WORKERS AND FOOD AND
AGRICULTURE HAD THE HIGHEST
EXCESS MORTALITY OUT OF ANY
OCCUPATION DURING THE PANDEMIC.
BEYOND COVID WHEN FARM WORKERS
HAVE TAKEN VIOLATIONS OF THEIR
LABOR RIGHTS TO THE AGRICULTURAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, EVEN
AFTER WINNING THEIR CASE IS THE
AVERAGE SETTLEMENT PAID BY
EMPLOYERS IS ONLY BETWEEN EIGHT
CENTS AND 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR
OF THE FINANCIAL JUDGMENT
AWARDED BY THE LRB. MORE NEEDS
TO BE DONE TO ENFORCE FARM
WORKERS' RIGHTS AND TO EMPOWER
FARMWORKERS TO ENFORCE THEIR
RIGHTS THEMSELVES. I WOULD NOW
LIKE TO PRESENT CECILIA PEREZ.
CECILIA IS A MEMBER OF THE
UNITED FARM WORKERS, AND CECILIA
WILL BE SPEAKING ABOUT HER OWN
EXPERIENCES. I WILL SERVICE OR
TRANSLATOR. THANK YOU. WHY NOT
ASK ME NUMBERS? CECILIA PEREZ
LOPEZ ESTATE. THANK MASTER YES,
THE LOSS. OR THEY WERE, UH NO,
CAMILLE'S A THEIR MANGA LARGA
PANTALOONS. THEY. E WHAT DOES E
SOMBREROS CÁC? AKARA DEL SOLE E
LOSS PESTICIDE? THEY HANDLE US
PARA. ELEMENTARY CALIFORNIA. E
ZINE EMBARGO. ELDERS MELBOURNE
TRUST ME, PASOS. SO WE SENT MEN
TRÊN CERESA HAS TO SAY THAT, YOU
KNOW, COME FOR THE OVER CIRCA.
AH LÀ ME RANCHERO BIEN CERCA
ARMY. NAZARIAN THE WIDOW I LOST
A FRIEND IS OVER THE PELIGRO E.
LOS PESTICIDE. THIS VEST LAST
CLASSES. OKAY, CAÑADA. ONION
NOSTALGIA CONTRACT HISTAMINES
SUPERVISOR KEIRA ARE SURPRISED
TO SEE THE MAIN TRÊN CONDO.
INFORMACIÓN KNOWS E EMPHASIZE
OUR CENTER KNOWS THEY WILL EQUAL
. THE STUDY HOK FEDERAL ERA EL
RANCHERO THIS CASE. IS IS THAT A
CHATTY STAY? OKAY. GLORIA.
FINAL. THEY WON THE. AS PER.
CHARTIST A PESTICIDE MASTER
CINQUANTA PERSONA. UH MY NAME IS
CECILIA PEREZ. I'VE SPENT 22
YEARS AS AN ESSENTIAL FARMWORKER
. UH WE THE AS FARM WORKERS, WE
WORK TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM
PESTICIDES AND FROM VERY HIGH
HEAT DURING THE SUMMER, WE WEAR
LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS, DENIM PANTS,
BOOTS, BIG HATS AND
HANDKERCHIEFS TO PROTECT OUR
FACE FROM THE SUN AND FROM
PESTICIDES. LEAVING ONLY OUR
EYES EXPOSED TO HARVEST THE
FRUITS AND THE VEGETABLES THAT
FEED CALIFORNIA AND THE REST OF
THE NATION. AH DESPITE THIS IN
2023. MY STEPS TO PROTECT MYSELF
WERE NOT SUFFICIENT. WHILE I WAS
HARVESTING CHERRIES. THEY WERE
SPRAYING PESTICIDES IN THE
ADJACENT FIELD. UM. FROM THE
PROPERTY WHERE I WAS WORKING
VERY CLOSE TO MY WORKERS. WE
WERE AROUND 50 WORKERS THERE AT
THE TIME, GIVEN WHAT I HAD
LEARNED ABOUT THE DANGERS AND
PROTECTIONS AGAINST PESTICIDES
THROUGH THE CLASSES THAT I
RECEIVE EVERY YEAR FROM MY UNION
, I TOLD THE FARM LABOR
CONTRACTOR AND SUPERVISOR THAT
THIS WAS ILLEGAL TO SPRAY
PESTICIDES WHILE WE WERE
WORKING. WE COULD GET SICK. OUR
BEGIN TO FEEL WEAK OR HAVE
NAUSEA. AND THE CONTRACTOR SAID
THAT YES, BUT THAT THE RANCHER
HAD SAID IT WAS VERY URGENT THAT
WE, UH HARVEST AS WELL AS IT WAS
VERY URGENT TO SPRAY THE
PESTICIDES AND SO THEY WERE
SPRING PESTICIDES FOR AROUND 30
MINUTES UNTIL FINALLY I GOT THEM
TO STOP BECAUSE I CONTINUE TO
DEFEND OUR SECURITY AND INSIST
THAT THIS WAS ILLEGAL. UM.
CONTRACT EAST AMERICA, OKAY,
EVEN ESPERAR. OKAY IT'S BETTER
SPRAYER. ELVIA HOLA, NOTICIAS
SIENDO. COME ON NOW, LORD
CABEZA. S IDEA TO ME FOR ME. IF
ME FAMILIAR ENEMIES MUST
CINQUANTA COMPANY. OKAY. THOMAS
IS QUESTO SENTIMENT RISK? JAVA.
IN EL TIEMPO, L'OREAL MISMO A
SENTIDO E S. C, THOUGH THE
MIDDLE THE LAWS IF ITOS LORE
EXTREMO NLD DOES SO MUCH LOCAL
OR AH! CABEZA E. M. PESA, SO
THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IF WE ARE
CENTER I THINK I THINK CENTER
TOMORROW. AYAAN VIDA. HMM. THINK
ME LOCATION. MIS COMPANEROS
TRABAJO PENA. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
CORONAS, QANTAS. SENTINELS. SO
THE CONTRACTOR TOLD ME THAT I
WOULD THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE
SPRAYING BY NIGHT. UH EVEN
THOUGH THEY SPRAY BY DAY OR BY
NIGHT, IT CONTINUES TO BE
DANGEROUS FOR US, AND WE FEAR,
NAUSEA, HEADACHES OR EVEN DEATH
THAT DAY. I WAS AFRAID FOR
MYSELF FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR THE
MORE THAN 50 WORK COLLEAGUES
THAT WERE ALSO PRESENT WHILE
THEY WERE SPRAYING THESE
DANGEROUS PESTICIDES. IN THE
HIGH HEAT. I HAVE ALSO FELT AND
BEEN WITNESSED TO THE EFFECTS OF
EXTREME HEAT IN 2022. IT WAS
VERY HOT AND I FELT, UH,
HEADACHES AND STARTED SWEATING
PROFUSELY. I WAS ABLE TO GO SIT
DOWN AND TAKE A BREAK AND DRINK
WATER WITHOUT BEING ASKED ANY
QUESTIONS. UH ANOTHER OCCASION.
IT WAS. IT WAS VERY, VERY HOT. I
TOLD ALL MY WORK COLLEAGUES THAT
IT IS NOT WORTH OUR LIVES TO
RISK OURSELVES FOR JUST A FEW
CENTS MORE. THE MAYOR FOR ILL
COLOR. THE MAYOR PORTLAND,
LAURIE. THEY THE VISION TO ME,
THEY CANNOT VALUE. UNFORTUNATELY
MEANT TRABAJO BAJO MISS
COMPANEROS. ARIZONA VISA, LATIN
PARATORE SEEN. THINK NO, NO, THE
NEMESIS. MAL COMO ESTA LISTO
PARA AYUDAR KNOWS E. MIS
COMPANEROS DANCING ONION. CANNOT
I SOMBRA E CANO. TO OUR THEORY.
A IN OTRAS CAMPUS. NO CELL
APPLIQUE ALORS, FORCING
APPLICANT LAST LATEST PROTECT
CAMPESINOS. NO. HMM. SIGNIFICANT
OTHER LIBIDO. ESTARÁ CALIFORNIA
QUÊ. LOCAL OR PESTICIDE PARA.
AND CURRICULA CASE. FOR THE ERA
LA SALUD, TRABAJADORES AGRICOLA.
SO I AM A DEFENDER OF MY RIGHTS,
BOTH FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS,
AND I INSIST THAT IT'S NOT WORTH
LOSING YOUR LIFE. FORTUNATELY IN
MY WORKPLACE WHEN I WORK UNDER A
UNION CONTRACT, MY COMPANY HAS A
PERSON WHOSE JOB IT IS TO CHECK
THE WATER TEMPERATURE. IF WE
FEEL ILL, OUR SUPERVISOR IS
READY TO HELP US. BUT MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO WORK WITHOUT A
UNION SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT
PROVIDED SHADE AND THAT THEY ARE
PROVIDED WARM WATER. AND OTHER
COMPANIES. THEY DO NOT APPLY THE
HEAT PROTECTIONS AND WITHOUT
APPLYING THE LAWS OF THAT
PROTECT FARMWORKERS. THESE LAWS
DO NOT MEAN ANYTHING. I ASKED
THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO, UH
TO COMPLY WITH THE PROTECTIONS
AGAINST HEAT AND PESTICIDES TO
ENSURE THE SECURITY AND THE
HEALTH OF ALL FARM WORKERS. AND
YES, WE CAN SEE SUPPORT. THANK
YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THIS, UH,
PANEL. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT?
EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. YEAH WE
HAVE ONE MORE SORRY. MARTINEZ
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CBD. I Ó
THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH AGAIN, UH,
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME MY NAME
IS HARRY MARTINEZ AND THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WITH CENTRAL
THE NATIONAL BUT INDIANA, OAXACA
, KENYA, UM, ALSO AN INDIGENOUS
APPLE TECH AND THE DAUGHTER OF
FARM WORKERS IN THE SALINAS
VALLEY. UM OF CBD. I O. FOR
SHORT, IS A COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS
PRIMARILY WITH INDIGENOUS
FARMWORKER COMMUNITIES AND. TWO
MAJOR AGRICULTURAL REGIONS, THE
CENTRAL VALLEY IN THE NORTH,
PART OF THE CENTRAL COAST. UM WE
, UH, WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES
IN A LOT OF THE STORIES THAT
YOU'VE HEARD? I'M NOT COMING. I
WAS REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT
OPENING OF THE HEARING. I THINK
IT WAS VERY ACCURATE AND ALSO
WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT A LOT OF
THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED
HERE AND NOT NEW THIS HAS BEEN
REALLY THE REALITY OF FARM
WORKERS. UH AND I THINK THAT, UM
THE STORMS, THE RECENT STORMS
AND COVID REALLY HIGHLIGHTED AND
, UM, REALLY SAW THE NEEDS IN
THE, UM THE NEEDS AND THE
EFFECTS OF FARM WORKERS AND WHAT
THEY'RE SUFFERING. UM SO WANTED
TO SAY THAT CDVA YOU EXIST TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY
GETS THE INFORMATION THAT THEY
NEED IN THE LANGUAGE THAT THEY
NEED, LIKE SYMMETRY. A HERE WE
WORK WITH A BROAD, UM AND
DIVERSE, CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTIC COMMUNITY TO ENSURE
THAT THEY GET THE INFORMATION
ARE FAR MORE QUÊ POPULATION IS
MULTILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL
IS NOT ALL. NOT EVERYONE SPEAKS
SPANISH. AH AND FOR EXAMPLE, IN
THE ORGANIZATION AND CBD I O R
STAFF IS SPEAK 1616 INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES, UH, THAT OUR FARM
MARKET COMMUNITY SPEAKS ACROSS
THE STATE. UH, WE ARE ABOUT 165
5000 INDIGENOUS FARMWORKERS. AND
THIS IS THESE ARE NUMBERS FOR
2009. THAT WAS THE LATEST
CENSUS. THERE'S REALLY NO
INFORMATION OF FARMWORKERS AND
THEIR ORIGINS OR WHAT LANGUAGE
THEY SPEAK, SO THAT'S ALSO A
HUGE ISSUE, AND I THINK THROUGH
COVID AGAIN LIKE THERE WAS
WORKERS WOULD DEEM ESSENTIAL.
AND THERE WAS EFFORTS. UH WHICH,
AGAIN? I THINK HAVING REALLY
HELPFUL IN A WAY TO COVER SOME
OF THE GAPS THROUGH THE STATE.
WE HAVE THE COVID 19 PROGRAM. AH
THAT IS THE, UM I AM MADAME
MESSED UP AND I SHOULD PREPARED
FOR THIS. BUT THE COVERED GAVE
US FUNDING FOR MANY
ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE
CAPACITY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE
COVERING SOME OF THOSE GAPS,
HOWEVER, THAT MONEY IS NOT
ENOUGH. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
NEGLECTED FOR SO MANY YEARS AND
WE ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE GET THE BASIC INFORMATION
, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO ENSURE
THAT IT DOESN'T END WITH
INFORMATION. BUT THERE IS
ENFORCEMENT AND THERE'S FOLLOW
UP FROM THE MULTIPLE AGE. SINCE
HE'S HAD THE STATE LEVEL TO
ENSURE THEY'RE RESPONDING. LIKE
UM, C MEDIA SHARE. WE HAVE MANY
CASES OF WAGE DEATH AS CBD. I
ALWAYS STARTED DOING A LOT OF
LABOR AND WORKER RIGHTS. LIKE IN
MID, UH, 2022 INSTANCE. THEN WE
HAVE PROCESS OR ARE IN THE
PROCESS OF FILING 10 CLASS
ACTION LAWSUIT FOR WAGE AND HOUR
VIOLATIONS IMPACTING ABOUT
20,000 WORKERS, MANY OF THEM
INDIGENOUS FARMWORKERS THAT
DIDN'T KNOW THE RIGHTS OR
LEARNING AND SPEAKING UP. UM
WITHOUT, UM, WANTED TO SAY THAT
ALL OF THOSE WAITING OUR
VIOLATIONS MANY PEOPLE ARE
GETTING PAID IN CASH LIKE
SYMMETRY. MENTION THIS BRINGS
MANY PROBLEMS. WE HAVE MANY
PEOPLE THAT HAVE GOT INJURED
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PROVED THAT
THEY WORKED BECAUSE AGAIN,
THEY'VE BEEN PICKED ASH. THERE'S
NO SICK TIME. SO THERE'S A LOT
OF SICK TIME VIOLATIONS, UH, IN
LUNCH AND BREAKS AS WELL. AH AND
ALSO WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO SPEAK UP
THERE, REALLY OR TRYING TO
DEMAND A BETTER WAGES, THEY'VE
BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF
WORKERS. EITHER YOU TAKE IT OR
YOU CAN LEAVE IT. WE HAVE PLENTY
OF WORKERS FOR US TO BRING SO IT
THIS IS YOUR ONLY OPTION. WHAT
WE ALSO SEEN AS INCREASE OF, UM
KIND OF PUTTING WORKERS AGAINST
EACH OTHER AND SAYING, LIKE, UM,
EITHER YOU TAKE THIS JOB AT THIS
CONDITIONS, OR WE BRING GUEST
WORKERS H TWO A WORKERS. I'M NOT
SURE HOW AWARE YOU ARE. BUT WE
HAVE AN INCREASE OF GUEST
WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA THAT, UH,
IT'S BEEN TOLD THAT YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A WORKERS SHORT, BUT WE
KNOW THAT THERE'S WORKERS, THEY
JUST BRING THEM TO PAY LESS
WAGES. AH IN BECAUSE OF THIS. WE
ALSO SEEN A LACK OF, UM BECAUSE
OF THE EIGHT HOUR OVER TIME
LIMIT THAT RECENTLY THERE WAS
PASSED, WORKERS HAD NOT BEEN
ALLOWED TO WORK OVERTIME AND
THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO WORK ON
SATURDAYS TO PAY CASH OR TO WORK
IN A DIFFERENT NAME. UH, WE HAVE
PLENTY OF EXAMPLES LIKE THESE
PEOPLE JUST DON'T DON'T LIKE
DON'T THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY OR
SWITCH CREWS SO THEY DON'T HAVE
SO THEY GROWERS DON'T HAVE TO
PAY OVER. TÌM I WON'T GO A LOT
INTO, UM, DETAILS IN THE HEAT
BECAUSE THERE'S MORE HEAT
HAPPENING. BUT AGAIN, MY MAIN
MESSAGE IS ENFORCEMENT WE HAVE
LOST THAT ARE NOT BEING ENFORCED
, AND THERE'S A LACK OF
COORDINATION ACROSS DIFFERENT
AGENCIES AND PEOPLE ARE JUST
CONFUSING WHERE TO GO, AND THAT
WAY TO SUBMIT CLAIMS. IT'S NOT
ADEQUATE. FOR THE LINGUISTIC AND
CULTURAL NEEDS OF OUR FARM WORK
AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU. AND NOW WE ARE, UM, FINISH
WITH THIS PANEL, BUT I WANT TO
OPEN IT UP TO OUR MEMBERS FOR
QUESTIONS AND WANT TO WELCOME
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S WARD AND ZEBRA
FOR JOINING US. ANY QUESTIONS
FROM OUR MEMBERS. ONE OF THE A.
C BIENVENIDO SAKE, I'LL CAPITAL
DE ESTADO. THAT'S ONE ON ORDER
SAID THIS HE SO UNIMPORTANT.
JAMAS ALLOWS CAMPESINA Z
TRABAJADORES ESTARÁ. IT'S REALLY
AN HONOR FOR MANY OF US TO HEAR
YOUR TESTIMONY AND JUST WANT TO
APPRECIATE THE FARM WORKERS WHO
TOOK THE TIME TO COME HERE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE HEARD YOUR
STORY. I HAVE HEARD TIME AND
TIME AGAIN THAT THE LAWS AND THE
FIELDS ARE NOT THE LAWS THAT WE
ARE PASSING HERE AT OUR
STATEWIDE LEVEL, AND WE NEED TO
HEAR YOUR STORIES, SO WE KNOW
THAT IMPLEMENTATION IS NOT
WORKING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
MANY OF US HAVE FOUGHT FOR THOSE
WAGE AND HOURLY PROTECTIONS. THE
OVERTIME PROTECTIONS THAT ARE
NOT GETTING IMPLEMENTED FOR OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE
ESSENTIAL WORKERS, SO I'D LIKE
TO REALLY DIG IN A LITTLE IF I
CAN, AND I'LL FOCUS SPECIFICALLY
ON SOME OF THE HEAT PROTECTIONS
THAT I THINK ARE LACKING. AS A
AS A WORLD WE HAD OUR WARMEST
YEAR ON RECORD LAST YEAR, AND
IT'S OFTEN TIMES OUR FARM
WORKERS WHO ARE ON THE FRONT
LINES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THOSE
ILLNESSES AND DEATHS. WHILE MANY
OF US SENSATIONALIZED THE
HURRICANES AND WILDFIRES WE HAVE
WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE
DYING FROM EXTREME HEAT EACH
YEAR, AND IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE ON
THE FRONT LINES LIKE OUR FARM
WORKERS WHO ARE SUFFERING THE
MOST. AND SO I'D LIKE TO
UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I HEARD FROM
CECILIA THAT IT WAS THE UNION
WHO WAS HELPING YOU TO HAVE
THOSE PROTECTIONS. AND WHILE I'D
LIKE EVERYONE TO BE UNIONIZED,
AND TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO
BE PROTECTED, HOW DO WE ENSURE
THAT ALL WORKERS IN OUR STATE
ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
RIGHTS THEY HAVE? SO WE CAN
EMPOWER THEM TO BE THE CHANGE
MAKERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. CAN
WE DO IT AND I'M MORE CULTURALLY
OR LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT WAY
TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT
THOSE OF US WHO ARE SITTING UP
HERE ARE FIGHTING FOR YOU AND
WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN PASSING LAWS FOR YOU
THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE GETTING IMPLEMENTED ON
THE GROUND. I'LL LET MY
COLLEAGUES AT CBD IOS RESPOND TO
THIS AS WELL. BUT I DID JUST
WANT TO SHARE ONE BRIEF POINT.
SO THE U F W WE OPERATE OUR OWN
HEAT SAFETY HOTLINE, WHICH WE
PROMOTE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON OUR
DIME AS BEST WE CAN, AND WE
ACTUALLY DO GET A LOT OF CALLS,
AND THESE ARE OFTEN WORKERS WHO
HAVE TRIED TO CALL CAL OSHA OR
DON'T KNOW HOW TO CALL CAL OSHA.
SOMETIMES WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE
CAN THEN REFER THOSE CASES TO
CAL OSHA OURSELVES. UM BUT IT'S
INTERESTING. I'LL JUST SHARE A
BRIEF ANECDOTE. THIS HAPPENED IN
YOLO COUNTY, WHICH IS WHERE I'M
FROM, WHICH IS NOT TOO FAR FROM
THE STATE CAPITAL HERE. I
RECEIVED A SERIES OF CALLS FOR
SOME WORKERS WHO SAID WE'RE YOU
KNOW, A LARGE CREW OF OVER 100
WORKERS WHO ARE NOT BEING GIVEN
SHADE OR NOT BEING GIVEN WATER.
CAN YOU COME AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT, AND I BASICALLY DROVE
OUT TO THE FIELD AND ACTUALLY
HAD A LITTLE BIT OF JUST A
DIRECT CONFRONTATION WITH THE
CONTRACTOR THERE, AND BASICALLY
SAID, HEY, YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING
THE LAWS HERE AND YOU KNOW, YOU
NEED TO PROVIDE SHADE AND WATER
AND WE WILL REPORT YOU TO CAL
OSHA IF YOU KEEP THIS UP, UH,
AND THE VERY NEXT DAY, THEY HAD
SHADE. THEY HAD WATER. SO IN
SOME WAYS THAT WAS A SUCCESS,
BUT I REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH
THOSE WORKERS. AND I THINK THE
THING THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE
IS JUST THE EXTREME LEVEL OF
FEAR THAT THESE WORKERS ARE
OPERATING UNDER WHEN THEY CALLED
ME, THEY SAID WHEN YOU ARRIVE,
DO NOT SAY LIKE THEY JUST
OBVIOUSLY I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE
THIS ANYWAY. BUT THEY REALLY
EMPHASIZED TO ME OVER AND OVER
AGAIN. DON'T SAY WHO CALLED YOU?
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE?
PRETEND YOU DON'T KNOW US.
PRETEND YOU JUST YOU KNOW SOME
SOMEONE ANONYMOUSLY CALLED. YOU
DEFINITELY DID NOT SAY WHO AND
THEN I ASKED THE WORKER LATER AT
VARIOUS POINTS. THE WORKER WHO
CALLED ME WOULD YOU LIKE TO
REPORT THIS TO CAL OSHA? WOULD
YOU LIKE TO COME TESTIFY? AT A
FORUM LIKE THIS. WOULD YOU LIKE
TO TALK TO A REPORTER? BECAUSE
YOUR STORY REALLY ILLUSTRATES
THE PROBLEM HERE, AND THE WORKER
SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE I NEED
THAT JOB NEXT SEASON. THAT'S HOW
I FEED MY KIDS. AND SO I THINK
IT'S REALLY HARD TO DISENTANGLE.
JUST, UH WE OBVIOUSLY SPOKE
ABOUT IMMIGRATION STATUS. BUT IN
THIS CASE THIS WORKER ACTUALLY
IS AH IS A LEGAL PERMANENT
RESIDENT HAS US CITIZEN CHILDREN
FOR THEM? IT'S JUST ABOUT THE
FACT THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE
THIS JOB, THEY CANNOT PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE FOR THEIR KIDS, AND
THEY'RE SO AFRAID OF LOSING IT
THAT THEY'RE UNWILLING TO BE
PUBLIC. AND THEY DO WANT THE
LAWS ENFORCED. OF COURSE, THEY
WANT THE LAWS IN FORCE, AND THEY
ARE ABLE TO KIND OF GET IT
ENFORCED THROUGH THE UNION
WITHOUT PUTTING THEMSELVES ALL
THE WAY OUT THERE. AND SO THIS
IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE WRESTLE
WITH, RIGHT. WHAT'S THAT BALANCE
BETWEEN HELPING WORKERS WITH THE
REALITIES THAT THEY'RE FACING,
VERSUS ACTUALLY FIGHTING TO HOLD
EMPLOYERS ALL THE WAY
ACCOUNTABLE. IN THIS CASE, WE
DID NOT HOLD THE EMPLOYER
ACCOUNTABLE. WE JUST FOUGHT
PUSHED. THE EMPLOYER BASICALLY
GAVE THEM A INFORMAL CHANCE TO
DO THE RIGHT THING, WHICH THEY
SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING FROM THE
BEGINNING. BUT I THINK THAT
STORY JUST ILLUSTRATES SOME OF
THE BARRIERS AND IT REALLY IS
THE ECONOMIC PARITY. AND OF
COURSE, WE BELIEVE THAT
ULTIMATELY, THE BEST SOLUTION IS
UNIONIZATION BECAUSE IT EMPOWERS
WORKERS TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS
THEMSELVES. SURE DR MARTINA AND.
I KNOW THE NEXT PANELS. I GOTTA
BE TALKING A LOT MORE ABOUT
HEAT, AND WE HAVE ACTUALLY
SOLUTIONS TO PROPOSE, SO I DON'T
WANT TO GO TOO MANY DETAILS. BUT
I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT
I SAID BEFORE TO, UM, ARE FORMER
CHIEF OF CAL OSHA AND SOME OTHER
STATE REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL?
IS THAT THE REALITY IS THAT
PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE LAWS ARE
BEING VIOLATED ONE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHERE TO GO OR LIKE THE
PROCESS TO FILE COMPLAINTS IS
NOT ADEQUATE, BUT I THINK THE
BIGGER PROBLEM IS THAT THE
AGENCIES ARE NOT RESPONDING IN A
TIMELY MANNER. THEY'RE NOT
TAKING THE COMPLAINTS, AND
THERE'S SO MANY. WE HEAR THIS
ALL THE TIME FROM WORKERS. I'M
GOING TO SAY HERE, BUT I KNOW I
WE'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER
AGAIN. THIS IS NOT TRUE THAT THE
COLLAGE TO INFORMS THE EMPLOYER
SO THEN, WHEN THEY SHOW UP TO DO
THE INSPECTION, EVERYTHING IS
CLEAN AND READY LIKE WE'VE BEEN
TOLD OVER AND OVER. THIS IS NOT
TRUE. WORKERS KEEP SAYING THAT
OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS WELL.
THAT IS A PROBLEM. CARLOS A
RIGHT NOW, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF
I'M WRONG, BUT IT'S I THINK THEY
HAVE A VACANCY RATE AT ABOUT 35.
AH IT'S REALLY UNDERSTAFFED.
THEY DON'T RESPOND, SO I DON'T
THINK IN WORKERS LOST TRUST
ALREADY. THEY DON'T HAVE FAITH
ON THIS ON THE SYSTEM ON
REPORTING, SO THAT'S ANOTHER
ANOTHER BIGGER PROBLEM SO
INFORMATION IT IS NOT AS MUCH AS
A PROBLEM. OF COURSE, THERE'S
LIKE TRAINING THAT IS STILL NOT
HAPPENING. INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES.
BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE
AGENCIES ARE NOT RESPONDING IN A
TIMELY MANNER AND THE WAY UNDER
STAFF. I KNOW THAT PROBABLY
UNDERWORKED, UH, BUT THEY
THEY'RE JUST NOT RESPONDING IN
THAT WHEN YOU DON'T RESPOND IN
TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY THAT THE SEASONS ARE SO
SHORT ONE WEEK YOU'RE IN THE IN
THE ORANGE AND THE TERRY'S SO IT
IS NOT LIKE IF YOU TAKE MORE
THAN A WEEK TO RESPOND AND GO
AND DO AN INSPECTION. THE
WORKERS ARE NO LONGER THERE. THE
CREW HAS LEFT. UH SO IT'S REALLY
ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE FARM
WORKERS. UH JOB THAT IS VERY
DIVERSE FROM REGION TO REGION
AND WITH THE CURRENT STAFFING
AND RESPONSE, TIME OF AGENCIES
IS NOT ADEQUATE TO REALLY GO IN
AND TACKLE THAT ISSUE AT THE
MOMENT. I'M JUST GOING TO UPLIFT
YOUR COMMENT IF I CAN REGARDING
LATINOS NOT BEING MONOLITHIC. WE
NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE
PASSING POLICIES THAT WE'RE ABLE
TO COMMUNICATE THOSE POLICIES TO
ALL COMMUNITIES, AND I WANT TO
MAKE SURE TO, UM YOU JUST HAD
YOUR 30TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND
WE HAVE NEED NEEDED YOUR SUPPORT
FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE NEED
YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP TO
MAKE SURE WE CAN EXPRESS THE
INFORMATION BUT THAT ALSO WE CAN
HEAR WHEN WE'RE FAILING. I WANT
TO MAKE SURE SINCE I HEAR
CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE ON THIS
PANEL THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN
ALSO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICES
AND THAT WERE AVAILABLE AND THAT
WE WANT TO BE REPRESENTATIVES
FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
OR NOT YOU CAN VOTE FOR US, AND
AS SUCH, PLEASE USE
REPRESENTATIVES TO HELP AMPLIFY
THE VOICE AFTER WE'VE HEARD FROM
COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATE THE
FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT SO
EFFECTIVELY IN THE CENTRAL
VALLEY. THANK YOU. UM I JUST
WANT TO THANK ALL OUR WITNESSES
TODAY, AND WE'LL HAVE SO MANY
DIFFERENT PANELS, OF COURSE HERE
FROM SO MANY FARM WORKERS
DIRECTLY TODAY, I ALSO WANT TO
ALIGN IN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES
WITH THE CHAIR IN THE ORIGINAL
AND YOUR OPENING COMMENTS ABOUT
HOW LOT OF THESE FAILURES IN OUR
OVERSIGHT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SYSTEM ARE DURING THE TIME OF
SURPLUS, RIGHT, SO IT'S VERY
EASY FOR US NOW. IN THE TIME OF
SCARCITY IN OUR BUDGET TO COVER
UP THOSE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT
DR MCKAY. I TALKED ABOUT THE
VACANCIES. CALISTA THAT
PERSISTED FOR A LONG TIME. AND I
DO THINK WE AS A STATE OF TO A
BETTER TO REBUILD THAT TRUST
BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE AGENCIES
THAT SHOULD BE LOOKING OUT FOR
THE COMMON WORKER FOR PEOPLE IN
THE FIELDS. AND I REALLY DO HOPE
THAT ON THIS COMMITTEE, I'M SURE
UNDER THE DIRECTION LEADERSHIP
OF THE CHAIR WILL BE PRACTICING
MORE OVERSIGHT HOLDING OUR
AGENCY ACCOUNTABLE. I KNOW THE
LAST PANEL TODAY WILL BE ASKING
THESE QUESTIONS OF THE OF THE OF
THE AGENCIES, BUT I HOPE THAT WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO EVEN
THROUGH THE BUDGETARY PROCESS,
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
CHAIR FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR SERVING
TODAY. THANK YOU. UH, I ALSO
JUST WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR.
ONE THING THAT YOU'RE FOR
INVITING ME TO COME AND
PARTICIPATE IN PARTICIPATING IN
A BIT OF THE HEARING. I DON'T
SERVE ON ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT I
DO REPRESENT HALF MOON BAY. AH
WHERE THERE WAS A SHOOTING SEVEN
FARM WORKERS WERE KILLED ALMOST
ABOUT 13 MONTHS AGO. A LITTLE
OVER A YEAR AGO. UM AND I KNOW,
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ISN'T
SPECIFICALLY BEING TALKED ABOUT
IS FARMWORKER HOUSING, BUT I
THINK IT FALLS UNDER HAZARDS
WHERE THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE U.
F W WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW
WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO REPORT
VIOLATIONS, YOU KNOW IN THE
FIELD VIOLATIONS THAT ARE MAKING
THEM PUTTING THEM AT RISK. WE
HAD A SITUATION WHERE WORKERS
WERE WERE AFRAID TO REPORT THAT.
ABSOLUTELY UM, UM, DESPICABLE
LIVING CONDITIONS THEY WERE
LIVING IN BECAUSE IF THEY HAD
THOSE LIVING CONDITIONS WOULD
HAVE BEEN RED TAGGED, WHICH
WHICH THEY SHOULD BE, BUT
THERE'S NO BACKUP OPTION. THERE
WAS NOTHING ELSE, EITHER.
NOWHERE ELSE FOR THE FARM
WORKERS TO GO. UM AND SO IT'S
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY WE
NEED TO DO SO MUCH MORE TO
SUPPORT ALL OF YOU WHO ARE
SUPPORTING US. UH, YOU KNOW,
SUPPORT YOU WHO ARE DOING THE
HARD WORK THAT THAT A LOT OF US
WON'T DO. AH TO PUT FOOD ON OUR
TABLES AND DEFEAT OUR
COMMUNITIES. AND SO YOU KNOW
THAT WE COVERED A LOT OF REALLY
IMPORTANT ISSUES TODAY, AND
THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE NEED
TO CONTINUE WORKING ON SO
GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
BE HERE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
COMING AND TALKING ABOUT THE
EXPERIENCES THAT YOU'RE HAVING
ONE OTHER THING. I JUST WANNA
MENTION TO THE POINT OF FARM
WORKERS COME FROM ALSO DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES WE HAD WE HAD NO
IDEA. FIVE OF THE FARM WORKERS
WHO WERE KILLED WERE CHINESE. UM
AND THEN THE SHOOTER WAS CHINESE
. IT WAS A CHINESE FARM WORKER.
AND SO IT JUST REALLY EMPHASIZES
THAT POINT. IT'S A VERY, VERY
GOOD POINT THAT WE NEED TO DO
MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY
NO MATTER WHERE YOU'RE FROM.
KNOWS WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE IN
CALIFORNIA. THANKS. THANK YOU. I
ACTUALLY HAVE ONE QUESTION SO I
CAN'T APOLOGIZE. I CAN'T
REMEMBER WHO MENTIONED THIS. BUT
WHAT I'M HEARING IS A LOT OF
TIMES WORKERS HAVE A HARD TIME
FILING COMPLAINTS OR EVEN
WILLING TO TALK TO ANYONE. BUT.
IN THE CHATS THAT THEY DO GET
THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AT THE END
OF THE SETTLEMENT THAT GET EIGHT
CENTS ON THE DOLLAR. CAN YOU
REPEAT THAT FOR ME ONE MORE TIME
AND TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. YEAH
SO THIS IS A STATISTIC THAT WE
HAVE THAT WHEN FARM WORKERS TAKE
THEIR CASE TO THE LRB AND THEY
WIN, WHICH IN ITSELF DOES NOT
HAPPEN OFTEN ENOUGH, BUT WHEN
THEY DO WIN THE LRB ORDERS OF
FINANCIAL, UH, JUDGMENT AWARD,
UH, OF THE MONEY THAT'S OWED TO
THE WORKERS, UH, AND THE AVERAGE
SETTLEMENT PAID BY EMPLOYERS WE
HAVE FOUND IS BETWEEN EIGHT
CENTS TO 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR
OF THAT FINANCIAL AWARD. SO FOR
EVERY DOLLAR, THE LRB ORDERS AND
EMPLOYER TO PAY A WORKER THE
WORKERS SEEING BETWEEN 8 TO 10,
CENTS OF THAT DOLLAR. AND IT WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER. PRE MOBILE
WONA AH, YOU FOLKS MAY RECALL
THAT IN 2017, THE LRB ORDERED
THE THEN OWNER OF THE PREVIOUS
COMPANY DANDER ALLEN TO PAY $10
MILLION IN BACK WAGES TO THE
WORKERS THAT WAS NEVER PAID THE
WORKER, THE COMPANY WAS
ULTIMATELY SOLD. IT MERGED WITH
PRIMO ALONA WAS SOLD TO PRIVATE
EQUITY. NOW IT'S GOING UNDER, UM
. IT'S WORTH MENTIONING. THERE'S
BEEN SOME REPORTING THAT HE D D
JUST GAVE OUT A $7 MILLION GRANT
TO FARM WORKERS SERVING
NONPROFIT COOPERATIVE.
CAMPESINA. UM. THAT MONEY WILL
HELP ASSIST WORKERS, MANY OF
WHOM, AS WAS MENTIONED IN
TESTIMONY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
DIRECT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. UH
AND OF COURSE, THAT MAKES A LOT
OF SENSE THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE
IN NEED, BUT IT'S JUST THERE'S
AN IRONY THERE OF THE COMPANY
WAS PAID WAS ORDERED TO PAY $10
MILLION AND THEY NEVER DID. AND
NOW MANY YEARS LATER, THE STATE
THE TAXPAYER, THE PUBLIC IS
PAYING $7 MILLION. AH TO TRY TO
HELP ACCOMMODATE THESE WORKERS
NOW IN THEIR TIME OF NEED, OF
COURSE, UH, IF THERE HAD BEEN IF
THE UNION HAD BEEN RECOGNIZED
THERE IF THE WALL HAD BEEN
FOLLOWED, UM IT'S POSSIBLE THAT
THIS WOULD ALL BE HAPPENING IN
THE CONTEXT OF THAT. BEING A
UNION COMPANY. WE WOULD, OF
COURSE, BE FIGHTING FOR
SEVERANCE WOULD BE FIGHTING FOR
BETTER PAY OUT PACKAGES FOR THE
WORKERS. UM BUT I THINK THERE'S
A REAL IRONY THERE OF, UH YOU
KNOW, THE PUBLIC IS BASICALLY
SUBSIDIZING. NOW THE FAILURE OF
THE LRB TO ACTUALLY ENFORCE THIS
SETTLEMENT THAT IT ORDERED PAID
TO THE WORKERS FOR THE BACK PAY
THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
GETTING HAD THAT UNION CONTRACT
BEEN IMPLEMENTED, SO THAT'S ONE
EXAMPLE OF JUST AN AREA OF WHEN
THESE. THESE PAYOUTS DON'T
ALWAYS ALWAYS GET TO THE
WORKERS. AND IF I COULD JUST ADD
ONE BRIEF COMMENT, UH, REGARDING
HALF MOON BAY. I WAS JUST THERE.
UH, TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THE
ANNIVERSARY, ALONG WITH ALLAH'S
AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES
SERVING ORGANIZATIONS THERE. UH
WE DID JUST GET SOME KQED
REPORTING THAT A SETTLEMENT WAS
OWED. AH WHAT WAS ORDERED WAS
PAID WAS AGREED TO BY THE
EMPLOYER. I DON'T HAVE THE
FIGURE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I
BELIEVE IT WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
$300,000 WAS FINE. AND THEN
THERE WAS SOME AMOUNT OF BACK
PAY OWED. BUT MANY OF THOSE
WORKERS IN HALF MOON BAY HAVEN'T
RECEIVED THAT YET. UH AND SO I
THINK THERE'S A REAL YOU KNOW
POTENTIAL FOR FOLLOW UP THERE
AND I'LL S WOULD HAVE MORE
INFORMATION OF JUST HOW DO YOU
GET THIS MONEY THAT HAS BEEN
ORDERED PAID INTO THE HANDS OF
WORKERS IN A TIMELY, EFFICIENT
MANNER. I MEAN, I MET WITH AT
LEAST FOUR OF THE WORKERS WHO
ARE STILL AT THAT MUSHROOM
COMPANY, AND YOU KNOW THEY
HAVEN'T AT LEAST THOSE FOUR
WORKERS HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SORT OF
SETTLEMENT MONEY COME THROUGH
YET, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HEARD
THAT IT WAS ORDERED PAID. MEMBER
SOBER. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND I
THINK REALLY RAISING, I THINK
REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT
WORKERS ARE FACING IN OUR
AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES. I HAD
ONE QUESTION AND THAT IS ON THE
RETALIATION WE'RE FACING. IF YOU
COULD SORT OF, I KNOW YOU
PAINTED A LITTLE BIT OF A
PICTURE OF SOME OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING. UM, IS IT IS IT? HOW
TO WHAT EXTENT? IS IT ISOLATED
IN SOME COMPANIES AND ARE THERE
SORT OF GOOD ACTORS AND BAD
ACTORS AND AS AND SHOULD
ENFORCEMENT BE MORE FOCUSED AND
WONDER IF YOU CAN SORT OF SPEAK
TO THAT? UH I THINK GENERALLY
SPEAKING, OUR VIEW IS THAT, UH
YOUR LABOR RIGHTS SHOULD NOT
DEPEND ON WHETHER OR NOT YOUR
EMPLOYER IS A GOOD ACTOR OR BAD
ACTOR. I THINK THAT RELYING
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE WE KNOW OF
GROWERS WHO REALLY DO TRY TO DO
THE RIGHT THING, AND FRANKLY,
THEY'RE OFTEN AT A DISADVANTAGE
WHEN THEY'RE COMPETING WITH WITH
OTHER ACTORS IN THE INDUSTRY WHO
ARE NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING
WHO ARE UNDERPAYING THEIR
WORKERS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT PUTS
KIND OF GOOD ACTORS AT A
COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE. BUT
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE DO NOT
BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD ANY
WORKER SHOULD RELY ON, UH,
EMPLOYER BEING A GOOD ACTOR,
RIGHT? I MEAN, AGAIN, GOING BACK
TO THE PREMIUM ALONE EXAMPLE.
COMPANIES CHANGE HANDS. AH
MERGERS HAPPEN. PRIVATE EQUITY
TAKES OVER WORKERS, MANY OF THEM
MOVE SEASONALLY. UH, CECILIA
SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS,
BUT SHE SPENT SOME OF THE YEAR
WORKING UNDER UNION CONTRACT
WHERE CONDITIONS ARE GOOD
PLANTS. OTHER PARTS OF THE YEAR
WORKING AT NON UNION COMPANIES
JUST BECAUSE OF THE SEASONAL
NATURE OF AGRICULTURE, AND SO WE
FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT YOU
CANNOT RELY SOLELY ON THE
GOODWILL OF AN EMPLOYER AND
THAT'S WHY WE DO NEED REAL
ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY FROM THE
STATE. AND, OF COURSE FOR US,
THE GOLD STANDARD IS EMPOWERING
WORKERS TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS
THEMSELVES. AND THAT'S THREE
UNION CONTRACT AND THAT WAY YOU
DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE
GOODWILL OF AN EMPLOYER. UH YOU
KNOW, WE REPRESENT FARMS WHERE
EMPLOYERS THE EMPLOYER DONATES
QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES, AND THAT'S THEIR
RIGHT. THAT'S TOTALLY FINE. WE
MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKERS ARE
TREATED GOLD STANDARD IN TERMS
OF WAGES, BENEFITS, WORKPLACE
PROTECTIONS. AND SO IT DOES NOT
MATTER WHAT THE POLITICS OR THE
IDEOLOGY OF THE EMPLOYER IS,
BECAUSE THE WORKERS HAVE THAT
UNION CONTRACT THAT'S GOING TO
HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. NO MATTER
WHAT NO MATTER YOU KNOW IF THEY
WAKE UP IN A BAD MOOD ONE DAY
ALRIGHT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND JUST
VERY BRIEFLY SAY, UM,
AGRICULTURE IS ONE OF THE ONLY
INDUSTRIES THAT HAS A STATE
AGENCY THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE
TO THEM, AND THIS COMPLICATES
EFFORTS TO RAISE STANDARDS IN
THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE THEY FEEL
LIKE OVER MINNESOTA SPONSORED TO
THEM WHEN THE U. S DATA RELEASED
THE FARM LABOR STABILIZATION
PROTECTION PILOT PROGRAM WITH
THE FIRST THAT PEOPLE CAN ARE
ABLE TO POINT TO THAT INVEST
PUBLIC SUBSIDIES INTO EMPLOYERS
THAT SHOW THAT THEY'RE RAISING
THEIR STANDARDS. AGRICULTURE
EMPLOYERS THAT SHOW THE REASON
THE STANDARDS WE HAD UM GROWERS
AND ASSOCIATIONS FROM CALIFORNIA
AND EVEN STILL A STATE OFFICIAL
CALLING THE USDA TO COMPLAIN
ABOUT THIS. UM SO WE DO NEED TO
THINK ABOUT HOW OTHER STATE
AGENCIES AND, UM THERE'S
EMPLOYER ASSOCIATIONS REALLY DO
RESIST EFFORTS TO TRY TO, UM
INVEST AND EMPLOYERS THAT ARE
WILLING TO RAISE THE STANDARDS
AND TO THINK THROUGH HOW WE DO
THAT. YOU CAN JUST SHARE JUST
REALLY QUICK. THE MAJORITY THE
VAST MAJORITY. I MEAN, THEY
PROBABLY HAVE THE NUMBERS BUT
ARE NOT UNIONIZED. SO WE CANNOT
DEPEND ON ON THE ON THE GOODWILL
OF HOME EMPLOYERS AND DEFINITELY
ENFORCEMENT IS FILLING WORKERS
AND NOBODY SHOULD BE GOING TO
WORK, FEARING OF SPEAKING UP
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE
PROPER STAYED WATER, OR WE JUST
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YES.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT AND
AGAIN. WE FRAMED IT TO TALK
ABOUT UNREPRESENTED WORKERS. UM
TODAY. UM, THANK YOU. GRACIAS.
UM NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S
SORIA FOR JOINING US. WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT
PANEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
THE BRAVE WORKERS THAT ARE HERE
TODAY REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
TESTIMONY. NEXT WE HAVE OUR
SECOND PANEL IS GOING TO
DISCUSS. THE BARRIERS TO
REPORTING LEGAL VIOLATIONS. AH
SPEAKING WILL BE CRISTINA
GONZALEZ. A FARM WORKER FROM THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE NETWORK. VICTOR MORA,
FARM WORKER WITH THE TEAMSTERS.
MEGHAN RUBLE, PRESIDENT OF THE
CALIFORNIA APPLICANTS. ATTORNEY
ASSOCIATION. AND THE LADY CORTEZ
LAWSON DIRECTING ATTORNEY WITH
CALIFORNIA LEGAL RULES
ASSISTANCE, AND LISA UM BREEZE
FARM WORKER ADVOCATE WITH A
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE NETWORK. THANK YOU. AH
THIS IS A BIG PANEL. AGAIN WE
WILL HAVE EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE
FIVE MINUTES. OKAY TO SPEAK WITH
AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES FOR A
TRANSLATION. PLEASE LET DO OUR
BEST TO STICK TO THE FIVE
MINUTES AND THEN I WILL OPEN
THAT UP FROM QUESTIONS FROM OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM, SO FIRST
WE HAVE CHRISTINA GONZALES. MHM.
WHEN WAS THE OSCE MEAN HOMBRES
CHRISTINA GONZALES. LARA DEL
CAMPO MADERA, CALIFORNIA. OIL.
ROSETTA'S SCANDAL. TOMATO CHILI
BLUEBERRY MEMENTOS, SANYO'S
STARTUP ISKANDER EGOS. RELEVANT
TIMONIUM COMPANEROS TAMBIÉN
TRABAJAN EN EL CAMPO IS
DIFFICULT TODAY. MOREIRA'S
TRABAJO ESPECIALMENTE. MAMA'S A
COLLAGE IN THE MUCHAS BASIS
TRABAJADORES. ROMA APARTHEID
ESPANOL. TRICKY MISTAKE. OH
SUPPORT TECH CO CAPTAIN. YOUR
LANGUAGES CAN NOT PERO NO CITRUS
HONEY MAMA'S CUANDO WAS
INTERPRETED IN WEST RADIO MMA.
OTHER MASS. OSHA TRABAJADORES
AMBULANCE PROBLEMA, SAYING
ANOTHER. SERVICE STORE, CUANDO.
ALOSHA ABYSSAL PATRON PEREIRA
BIZARRE. HILARIA DEL TRABAJO. NO
POINT IN TREME SCENE OUT OF
RECESSION. E QUESTIONING PERMISO
PARA PODER. TIEMPO PARA LOS
PATRONS OF ISN'T I LOST MY DOMO
SUPERVISE SORES. POSTPONING A
TRABAJAR LAS PRIMERAS DOS HORAS
DE LA MANANA, OLYMPIA ELLARIA.
ANTON SAYS CUANDO KALOOSHA
VISITOR OR, UM, SUPERVISORY
LARREA DE TRABAJO. PATRON ESTÁ
TRAVÉS RONDEAUX, UH IN SENOR OR
DEMONSTRATOR OLYMPIA IN ASSAULT.
TRABAJADORES RAMOS IN MY LIFE,
THE THEN CIA. AH. GET THE NEMO'S
, UH, YELLING TO ARREST CUANDO
YO MAMA'S TEMPLAR. AND AUGUSTO.
US DOLLARS. TRAVEL HANDOFF
SCANDAL EGOS KAMALA'S, THEY HAVE
CONTACT MONICA CIONCAN CHORDOMA.
HE KNOWS THIS MANANA TENEMOS QUE
OLIMPIA ELLARIA LAS PRIMERAS DOS
HORAS. RICO HERVE SORA, BANDANA
BARLOW, SPANO'S, UH, SERCAN.
AGUA ESTA LISTO PARA CUANDO IN A
SUPERVISORY LARREA. BUT I AM ES
ANNOYS CORRECTO PARA MIS
COMPANEROS TAMPOCO. WHO STILL
ASIA OVER THAT SHE KNOWS THE
STEPS SIONA. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS CRISTINA GONZALES AND I
AM A FARM WORKER. AND I LIVE IN
MADERA, CALIFORNIA. I HAVE
WORKED IN THE HARVEST PICKING
TOMATOES, CHILLIES, BLUEBERRIES,
AND LATELY, I THIS PAST TWO
YEARS, I HAVE ALSO BEEN PICKING
FIGS. AND I AM HERE TODAY. TO
ELEVATE TESTIMONY FROM MY
COLLEAGUES WHO ALSO WORK IN THE
FIELDS AND GO THROUGH MANY
DIFFICULTIES, MANY BARRIERS IN
THEIR PLACE OF WORK, ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE CALLED TELL OSHA TO
SUBMIT A COMPLAINT, UH, BECAUSE
OF A VIOLATION MANY TIMES THE
WORKERS SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE
OTHER THAN SPANISH. THEY SPEAK
TRICKY MISTAKE. OH ZAPOTEC, OH,
AND PROTEIN AND OTHER LANGUAGES
THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY HAPPEN
DOWN HERE AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE
OFTEN TIMES FEEL VERY NEGLECTED
WHEN THERE ISN'T SOMEBODY TO
INTERPRET OUR TO US IN OUR
LANGUAGES. DOES NOT UNDERSTAND
US AS WORKERS. THEY TALK ABOUT
THE PROBLEM. BUT WE SEE THAT
THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN MOMENTS
WHEN KALUSHA LET THE UM THE
FARMER KNOW THAT THERE IS A
VIOLATION, UM, SEARCHED AND THEY
LET THEM KNOW AND BECAUSE THEY
QUOTE UNQUOTE CANNOT ENTER
WITHOUT GIVING THEM NOTIFICATION
THAT GIVES THE FARMERS OWNERS
TIME TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE
FOREMAN THE SUPERVISOR, SO THAT
THEN THEY HAVE THEY HAVE US
USUALLY WORK THE FIRST TWO OR
THREE HOURS IN THE MORNING, UH,
CLEANING OF THE AREA SO THAT
WIND KALUSHA FINALLY ARRIVES TO
INSPECT THE WORK AREA.
EVERYTHING IS CLEAN AND THE
USUALLY THE OWNER IS AT THE
ENTRANCE READY TO GREET. TELL
OSHA TO SHOW THEM THAT
EVERYTHING IS CLEAN AND WE AS
WORKERS. END UP IN BAD EVIDENCE
ARE LOOKING BAD. UM AND THIS
MAKES US LOOSE FAITH. TO HAVE
THAT INTEREST TO CALL. ANOTHER
EXAMPLE IN AUGUST OF 2023. WHEN
I WAS WORKING, UH, HARVESTING
FIXES. I WAS MENTIONING, UM,
ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE CONTACT
DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FOREMAN
AND SHE SHE'LL LET ME KNOW.
TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND
THE FIRST TWO HOURS OF THE DAY
CLEANING. THEY HAVE A PIG TRASH.
THEY THEY SEND OFF THE RESTROOMS
TO GET WASHED FRESH WATER, AND
ALL OF THIS IS READY SO THAT
WHEN THEY GO IN SUPER RACY AREA,
EVERYTHING IS GOOD. TO ME. THIS
ISN'T CORRECT TO MY COLLEAGUES.
THIS ISN'T CORRECT. THIS IS AN
INJUSTICE AND TO US. THIS REALLY
DOES MAKE US FEEL, UM,
DISSATISFIED. THANK YOU. DO YOU
HAVE MORE OR OKAY? VICTOR MORA.
WHEN VICTOR MORA. SALINA'S
THANOS. REPRESENT A LAS CORREAS
EASTER WENT. TO IT IS
IMPLEMENTED. WE ARE COMMENTARIES
ALGORITHM. OKAY, LARA. YOU LOOK
AND WHEN WAS LOGRADO MUCH OF THE
COMPANY ROSE. STAN. SEEN UNION.
LOCAL IZBASA PROBLEMAS, TNN. I'M
MORE CHARLIE SCREAMING ALEJO'S.
CANCEL TIEMPO SERVICE CNTA.
SUTRAS. GET THE UNION I MUCH AS.
MUCH AS WHEN OFFICIALS GET THE
NEMESIS. THOMAS. LAUNCHES ALLOW
LARA RAISE. IT WAS ONE OF
BENEFICIARIES. WHEN I SAY GOOD
ANSWER. GOT A TREE. SANYO'S
STARTED STRATUS. YOU'RE
THINKING. DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTAMENTO TEENS WHO
REPRESENTATIVE YOU REPRESENT ALL
THE PARTS. AGRADO. BARONESS
OTRAS. WHEN I SAID GRANDSON WHEN
DOES BENEFICIOS. BONUS
OCCASIONS. INCLUSIVE ALOYSIUS
FESTIVE OWES. ERNESTO. YES POOR
IS OKAY. THIS IS THE COMPANY IS
MÐI. I DIDN'T CARE. MUST FORTE.
EASY. A WEEK AGO, THE IN AND
ESTO. OKAY COMPANY.
APPROXIMATELY MENTALLY. HMM E.
IN SEPTEMBER. A TRABAJAR DE.
PARA LAS OTRAS STRESS. YEAH, YOU
KNOW. CONTINUE IN. A STATUE.
OBAMA'S. NECESITAMOS. BUT
BENEFICIAL BUT I WAS IN THE
COTTO. C¢M ALWAYS SPOKE AT THE
NEMO'S ALOSI GENTLE Ó.
TERRORIST Ó. UNION. CUANDO
ZEALOUS TIMOR. LASAGNE EL TRATO
UNDERSTAND MADO CONTINUES.
NORMAL. DIFFERENT. ONE OF THEM
RESULTED IN THE TRABAJO. IN HIS
MASK UNION. THE THERE IS AN
OPPOSITE MUST SAY, SORA SEACM
OUR DIVAS. M E N OY UNION. TOÀN.
RELEVANT CONDO. SYSTEM IMPORTANT
AGAINST THE ALMOST A DIRECTIVE
TO WENT TO LOCAL AUSTRALIAN
HOLOMISA. HELLO, APPLIQUE IN.
STATUS, PROCULUS. CAMPESINOS.
GRACIAS. PORTANTINO'S. THANK
YOU. YES, YES. YES, YES. SORRY.
JUST GETTING SOME CLARIFICATION.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS VICTOR
MORA. AND I COME FROM THE VALLEY
OF SILLINESS. AND I HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR DULL FOR ABOUT 40
YEARS AND I REPRESENT, UM, THE
TEAMSTERS 890 LOCAL AND. I
SIMPLY WANT TO COMMENT SOMETHING
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OR
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
ACHIEVE MANY OF OUR COLLEAGUES.
WHO. ARE WITHOUT A UNION
CONTRACT. WHAT HAPPENS? WHAT
PROBLEMS DO THEY GO THROUGH?
THERE'S A LOT OF DISCRIMINATION
FOR THEM. THEY DON'T GIVE THEM
ENOUGH TIME FOR EVERYTHING, UH,
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT UNDER A UNION
CONTRACT. WE WHO DO HAVE A UNION
CONTRACT. THERE ARE MANY
BENEFITS THAT WE DO HAVE DURING
THE TIME FRAME THAT, UH, WE ARE
THERE WE GET OUR LUNCH HOURS ARE
BREAKS AND GOOD BENEFITS. WE
HAVE A GOOD GOOD GOOD INSURANCE
POLICY EVERYTHING. THREE YEARS
WE ARE ABLE TO RENEW OUR
CONTRACTS AND GO THROUGH THEM
RIGHT NOW. I HAVE BEEN
NEGOTIATING FOR DOLE FOR ABOUT
20 YEARS FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT
I WORK IN. EACH DEPARTMENT HAS
THE REPRESENTATIVE. I REPRESENT
THE DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS IN THE
CELERY. AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
LITTLE BY LITTLE. BE ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING GOOD FOR US
GOOD INSURANCE. GOOD BENEFITS.
BONUSES VACATION TIME. AND EVEN,
UH, HOLIDAYS. AND ARE PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT. UNDER UNION CONTRACT.
UM I THINK THAT THAT IS WHY
OFTEN TIMES THEY. BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT
WE DO HAVE THEY OFTEN TIMES. UM
DON'T HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE, SO I
FEEL THAT OUR COLLEAGUES WHO
HAVE NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO THE
BENEFITS, PERHAPS THEY HAVE NOT
BEEN EDUCATED ON THE BENEFITS
THAT COME WITH BEING UNIONIZED.
BUT DURING THE TIME THAT I HAVE
BEEN WORKING FOR THIS COMPANY I,
AS I JUST STATED I'VE BEEN
WORKING ON WORKING WITH THE
UNION CONTRACTS FOR ABOUT 2020
YEARS NEGOTIATING AND. RIGHT AND
I CAN SAY THAT, TOO, WHEN
SOMEBODY GETS HURT, AND THEY'RE
UNDER UNION CONTRACT, YOU ARE
STEADILY BROUGHT BACK IN. BUT
WHEN SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE A
UNION CONTRACT, THEY HAVE TO
WORK WITHOUT THOSE PROTECTIONS.
WHEN WE HAVE A UNION CONTRACT,
WE ARE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WHAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE AND OUR
BENEFITS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE THOSE BETTER PROTECTIONS. I
KNOW THAT WE'RE SHORT ON TIME,
BUT I JUST WANNA SUMMARIZE ONE
LAST THING TO CLOSE OFF. THE
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A UNION
TO REPRESENT THEM ONCE AGAIN
WHEN THEY GET HURT, AND THEY
COME BACK TO WORK, THEY TREAT
THEM AS IF THEY WOULD NOT HAVE
GONE THROUGH OF, UM, THROUGH A
WORK RELATED ISSUE. BUT WHEN YOU
HAVE A UNION CONTRACT, THEY
TREAT YOU DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DO
HAVE ANY TYPE OF WORK RELATED
INJURY. YOU HAVE MORE SUPPORT
THROUGH A UNION CONTRACT. THEY
LET YOU KNOW. UM OKAY. WELL YOU
KNOW, BASED ON YOUR INJURY, GO
AHEAD AND WORK 55 HOURS OR SIX
HOURS TO RECOVER FROM YOUR
INJURY AND THE UM AND THE POOR
PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A UNION
CONTRACT. THEY HAVE TO COME BACK
AND WORK THE REGULAR HOURS AND
OFTENTIMES, THEY PROBABLY DON'T
EVEN FEEL READY TO GO BACK INTO
THE FULL DAY OF WORK. BUT THEY
HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THOSE PROTECTIONS. SO I
HOPE THAT, UM YOU AS OUR BOARD
TAKEN TO CONSIDERATION WHAT WE
BRING TO THE TABLE SO THAT IT
CAN BE APPLIED. AND SO THAT, UM
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE
ACCESS TO UNIONS SO THAT THEY
CAN WORK THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD
BE WORKING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU
. NEXT. WE HAVE MEGAN ROBO
PRESIDENT OF, UH UM SORRY. WHAT
DOES I USE MY SPOT CALIFORNIA,
CALIFORNIA APPLICANTS,
ATTORNEYS. SORRY GO AHEAD. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, MADAM
CHAIRWOMAN. UM THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH YOU TODAY. UM AGAIN. MY
NAME IS MEGAN RUBLE. I'M THE
PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
APPLICANTS ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION
AND I ALSO REPRESENT INJURED
WORKERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
SO TODAY, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO
YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
REPRESENTATION. FIRST
REPRESENTATION MEANS RESULTS.
EUROPE, THE US BUREAU OF LABOR
STATISTICS REPORTS THAT WORKERS
REPRESENTED BY UNIONS EARN 18%
HIGHER WAGES THAN UNREPRESENTED
WORKERS IN THE SAME INDUSTRY
DOING THE SAME JOB. THE JUDICIAL
COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA POINTS OUT
THAT 85% OF LOW WAGE WORKERS
DON'T SEEK LEGAL REPRESENTATION
IN CIVIL COURT BECAUSE
CALIFORNIA DOESN'T TELL THEM
THAT THEY CAN IN WORKERS' COMP.
ONLY ONE AND A QUARTER PERCENT
OF ALL REQUESTS FOR REVIEW OF AN
INSURANCE COMPANIES. DENIAL OF
MEDICAL TREATMENT COME FROM
INJURED WORKERS WHO ARE
UNREPRESENTED. U C. DAVIS
CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATES THAT
250,000 CALIFORNIA FARM WORKERS
DO NOT HAVE LEGAL IMMIGRATION
STATUS. THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF
MEDICINE REPORTS THAT FARM
WORKERS HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF
COVID DEATHS. 400 PER 100,000.
BUT THE LOWEST RATE OF REPORTING
COVID SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
REPRESENTATION MEANS FARM
WORKERS CAN REPORT THEIR
INJURIES. SO IN WORKERS' COMP,
UM, AN INJURED WORKER IS
ENTITLED TO WORKER'S COMP
BENEFITS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, BUT WE HAVE
DUELING STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS
WHICH REALLY MAKE THAT
MEANINGLESS FOR FARM WORKERS.
TAKE THIS EXAMPLE IF WE HAVE A
FARM EMPLOYER WHO IS AWARE OF OR
BECOMES AWARE OF AN INJURED
WORKERS, UM, A FARM WORKERS
IMMIGRATION STATUS UNDER FEDERAL
LAW, THEY CAN'T LEGALLY RETURN
THAT FARM WORKER TO THEIR JOB
AFTER THEY RECOVER FROM THEIR
INJURY. IT ONLY TAKES ONE PERSON
LOSING THEIR JOB OR WORSE. ONE
PERSON GETTING DEPORTED, RIGHT,
UM, TO CHILL ANY DESIRE TO
REPORT AN INJURY. I REPRESENT
WORKERS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY,
ONE OF THE MOST AGRICULTURALLY
RICH REGIONS IN THE STATE. AND I
HAVE VERY FEW CLIENTS WHO ARE
FARM WORKERS, AND I BELIEVE
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID
TO REPORT THEIR CASES BECAUSE OF
RETALIATION BECAUSE OF THE
THINGS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, UM
FROM THE WORKERS WHO ARE OUT
THERE. IN THE CASE OF THE
GROWING NUMBER OF H TWO A FARM
WORKERS, IT'S EVEN WORSE. THESE
INDENTURED WORKERS HAVE A
FEDERAL PERMIT TO WORK HERE FOR
A SINGLE EMPLOYER FOR A SPECIFIC
PERIOD. WHEN THEY GET SERIOUSLY
INJURED THE WORKERS COMPENSATION
PROCESS FOR A MAJOR INJURY TAKES
LONGER THAN THEY'RE EVEN ALLOWED
TO BE HERE. AND THEY NEVER
RECEIVED THE MEDICAL TREATMENT
THERE, SUPPOSEDLY LEGALLY
ENTITLED TO AND FINALLY, THE
STATE ONLY COLLECTS 21 CENTS ON
THE DOLLAR FOR ALL THE FINES
THAT ARE ASSESSED AGAINST
WORKERS' COMP INSURANCE
ADJUSTERS WHO ILLEGALLY REDUCE
MEDICAL TREATMENT.
REPRESENTATION MEANS THE ABILITY
TO ENFORCE THE RIGHTS OF FARM
WORKERS. WE NEED A NEW
ENFORCEMENT PARADIGM TO REDUCE
INTIMIDATION. LAST YEAR'S SB 27
GIVE LEGAL STANDING TO CO
WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA TO ENFORCE WAGE THEFT
LAWS. THAT'S NEW, AND THAT MIGHT
WORK. YOU SHOULD CONSIDER GIVING
LEGAL STANDING TO CO WORKERS
EVERYWHERE TO DO WHAT STATE
AGENCIES JUST AREN'T EQUIPPED TO
DO GIVE LEGAL STANDING TO CO
WORKERS WHO HAVE LEGAL STATUS TO
STAND UP IN COURT FOR WORKERS
WITH NO JOB SECURITY. NOT ONE
FARMWORKER, REPRESENTED BY THE
U. F W HAS DIED OF HEAT ILLNESS.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE
PROTECTION OF A UNION CONTRACT
RIGHT THE PROTECTION OF A UNION
CONTRACT, THOSE WORKERS ARE ABLE
TO ENFORCE THE STATE'S WORKPLACE
HEAT REGULATIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
TO THE CHAIRS OF BOTH LABOR
COMMITTEES. NONE OF THE LEGAL
LEGALLY REQUIRED SIGNS POSTED IN
ANY CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE TELLS
INJURED WORKERS THAT THEY MIGHT
NEED A LAWYER OR THAT THEY'RE
ENTITLED TO A FREE LEGAL
CONSULTATION. I MEAN, I'VE HEARD
THIS FOR MYSELF. I GO ON COURT
CALL, AND I HEAR PEOPLE SAY I
DON'T I CAN'T AFFORD A LAWYER. I
DON'T I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE I
COULD HAVE A LAWYER. HOW CAN I
GET A LAWYER? THEY DON'T KNOW
IT'S NOT POSTED FOR ANYBODY. SO
WE APPLAUD YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO
CORRECT THIS. WE ALSO APPLAUD
SENATOR COURT EASY FOR
INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT
WILL MAKE WORKERS' COMPENSATION
AND MEANINGFUL SYSTEM AND
REDUCING HEAT ILLNESS AND DEATHS
AMONG FARM WORKERS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. UM, NOW WE HAVE
ANALLY CONTEST. BULOW SAN
DIRECTING ATTORNEY FOR THE
CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL
ASSISTANCE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE. UM AS A
DIRECTING ATTORNEY. I SUPERVISE
A TEAM OF SEVERAL ADVOCATES WHO
PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO
THE COMMUNITY WITH REGARDS TO
HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE
WORKPLACE. THESE SERVICES
INCLUDE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
PRESENTATIONS, LEGAL
REPRESENTATION AND THE FILING OF
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLAINTS.
BOTH UM WE FACILITATING OR
FILING COMPLAINTS OURSELVES. WE
ALSO FEEL MONITOR. SINCE 1966 C
R L A HAS ENGAGED IN FIELD
MONITORING TO BETTER THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF WORKERS IN THE
WORKPLACE. WE HAVE A CLOSE
COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH
KELLER THAT ALLOWS US TO FILE
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLAINTS
WITH FEWER BARRIERS COMPARED TO
UNREPRESENTED AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS. FIELD MONITORING IS
WHEN ADVOCATES GO OUT INTO THE
COMMUNITY AND FROM THE PUBLIC
ROADWAY OBSERVED AGRICULTURAL
FIELDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR
NOT THERE ARE ANY HEALTH AND
SAFETY VIOLATIONS. WHERE WE
TRAVEL DEPENDS ON THE SEASON AND
THE TIME OF YEAR. BEFORE WE HEAD
OUT. WE CALL THE LOCAL KELL
OFFICE AND LET THEM KNOW WE WILL
BE OUT FIELD MONITORING AND
CALLING IN WITH COMPLAINTS. IN
TEAMS OF ONE OR TWO ADVOCATES
DRIVE AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND
OBSERVE WHETHER WORKERS HAVE
WATER RESTROOMS, SHADE
HANDWASHING FACILITIES, OR, FOR
EXAMPLE, HOW FAR THE RESTROOMS
ARE FROM THE WORKERS. IF THERE
ARE ANY RESTROOMS AT ALL.
DESPITE REGULATIONS AND DECADES
OF FILING COMPLAINTS, ADVOCATES
CONSISTENTLY SEE AG WORKERS
WORKING IN THE FIELD WITHOUT
DRINKING WATER. OR PROPER SHADE
STRUCTURE IN HIGH TEMPERATURE
WEATHER. SO WHEN AN ADVOCATE
SEES HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
VIOLATION, THEY GATHER EVIDENCE
OF THE VIOLATION BY TAKING
PHOTOS OR VIDEO RECORDINGS. THE
ADVOCATE, THEN CALLS KELL OSHA
AND REPORTS THE OBSERVATIONS.
THE ADVOCATE PROVIDES AS MUCH
INFORMATION AS THEY CAN BASED ON
WHAT THEY OBSERVED FROM THE
PUBLIC ROADWAY. THE INFORMATION.
KELLER TO REQUEST CAN BE FOUND
IN THE FACT SHEET, UM, CREATED
BY CRLA THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT PIECES
OF INFORMATION TO OBTAIN AND
PROVIDE TO CAL OSHA IS THE
EMPLOYER INFORMATION. DESPITE
RULES REQUIRING OTHERWISE MANY
WORKERS DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHO
THEIR EMPLOYER IS, UNTIL THEY
GET THEIR FIRST CHECK IF THEY
EVER FIND OUT AT ALL. WITHOUT
THE EMPLOYER INFORMATION,
COMPLAINANTS RISK THEIR HEALTH
AND SAFETY VIOLATION CALL BEING
REJECTED. THOUGH WE DO NOT HAVE
THE EMPLOYER INFORMATION WHEN WE
CALL CAL OSHA AS WE'RE FIELD
MONITORING. OUR CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP HAS ALLOWED US TO
FILE THOSE HEALTH AND SAFETY
COMPLAINTS. NEVERTHELESS
HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT SOMETIMES WE OURSELVES FACE
RESISTANCE AND SOME PUSHBACK.
ONCE WE FILE A COMPLAINT, KELL
VISITS THE SITE AND CONDUCTS AN
INSPECTION. IS UNABLE TO VERIFY
OUR COMPLAINTS. DURING THEIR
INSPECTION. THEY ASK US TO
PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'VE
COLLECTED, UM, SUCH AS
DECLARATIONS AS UM, AND AS I
MENTIONED PICTURES AND VIDEOS
THAT WE'VE TAKEN WITH OUR LEGAL
TRAINING WERE ALSO TO HELP ABLE
TO HELP THEM FIND THE EMPLOYER
INFORMATION, AND WE PROVIDE THAT
AS WELL. ONCE WE FILE A
COMPLAINT, WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE
NOTICE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT WITHIN
SIX MONTHS OR SO SOMETIMES IT'S
A LOT MORE. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE
LESS AND WHEN WE DON'T WE TRY
OUR BEST TO FOLLOW UP. IF WE
RECEIVE A NOTICE OF NO FINDINGS,
WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT TO
FILE AN APPEAL, AND WHEN WE DO
WE SUBMIT DECLARATIONS,
EVIDENCE, ETCETERA. UM IN 2023
ALONE. WE SUBMITTED 27
COMPLAINTS AND RECEIVED NOTICE
OF $67,540 IN CITATIONS ISSUED.
THIS PROCESS. THE COMPLAINT
PROCESS FIELD MONITORING ALL
THAT. UM IT'S VERY TIME
CONSUMING AND WITHOUT APPLICABLE
TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE, MANY
AGGREGATORS ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS
THIS COMPLAINT PROCESS. THAT'S
WHERE WE STEP IN. BUT THERE'S
STILL MORE WORK THAT CAN BE
DONE. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
THAT A GOOD WORKERS FACE MANY
BARRIERS WHEN ACCESSING BASIC
AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS TO A SAFE
WORKING ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU.
NEXT WE HAVE YET LISA AND BREEZE
OF FARMWORKER ADVOCATES CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
NETWORK. THANK YOU. UM GOOD
MORNING. THANK YOU FOR MEETING
WITH US TODAY. MY NAME IS ALYSSA
HOMBRES AND I'M, A FARM WORKER
ADVOCATE WITH THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
NETWORK. AND I'M HERE TODAY WITH
THE CALIFORNIA FARMWORKER
ADVOCACY WORKING GROUP. THAT'S
MADE UP OF ORGANIZATIONS
COMMITTED TO CENTERING THE
VOICES OF FARM WORKERS AND STATE
POLICY. AND I'M ALSO A DAUGHTER
OF FARM WORKERS, WHO ALSO DEEPLY
UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES HERE
TODAY. LIKE MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES HERE SO AS YOU HEARD
FROM FARM WORKERS IN THE
PREVIOUS PANEL, THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF FRUSTRATION FROM FARM
WORKERS AMONG THEM SPECIFICALLY,
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THEIR
DISCOURAGEMENT AND THAT
FRUSTRATION IN FILING AND FILING
LABOR COMPLAINTS. AND I WANT TO
SHARE THE DIFFICULTIES THAT
ADVOCATES LIKE ME. ALSO
ENCOUNTER WHEN TRYING TO FILE
THOSE COMPLAINTS. AND I DO ALSO
WANT TO TOUCH ON THE SOLUTIONS
TO ADDRESS THOSE FARMER GROUP
CONCERNS AND ISSUES. IN MY ROLE
AS A FARM WORKER ADVOCATE. I'VE
BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN
DOCUMENTING MANY ACCOUNTS OF
FARMWORKERS, STORIES AND
COMPLAINTS, AND THE STORIES HAVE
REINFORCED THAT MOST WORKERS
SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE FAITH IN THE
STATE LABOR AGENCIES. AND THEY
FEEL IT'S POINTLESS TO REPORT
THOSE COMPLAINTS. AND THOUGH
THIS IS TRUE, UM MANY COMPLAINTS
TODAY REGARD THEIR HEALTH AND
SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE SO
SPECIFICALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON
THE INTERACTIONS I'VE HAD WITH
KALUSHA. ONE OF THE FIRST
BARRIERS THAT FARM WORKERS FACE
IS FEAR OF RETALIATION. AS
YOU'VE HEARD. BECAUSE WORKERS
OFTEN LACK DOCUMENTATION AND
LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK. THEY
COMPLY WITH HAZARDOUS
CONDITIONS. AND BECAUSE OF FEAR
OF LOSING THEIR JOB, THEY DO
NOT. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT REPORT
OR SUBMIT ANY SORT OF CLAIM. AS
YOU HEARD FROM CHRISTINA HERE.
LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY IS A
MAJOR BARRIER FOR THOSE THAT
OVERCOME THEIR FEAR OF
RETALIATION. WHEN WORKERS CALLED
CAL OSHA THEY USUALLY SELECT
SPANISH AND THEY'RE FORWARDED.
TO A STAFF PERSON THAT SPEAKS
ENGLISH. IF THEY'RE CALLING
DURING THE EXTENDED HOURS FROM 5
TO 7. THEIR CALLS ARE FORWARDED
TO A CALL CENTER WHERE STAFF
HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WORKPLACE
SAFETY, AND THEY DO TAKE THAT
MESSAGE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE
KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERTISE ON THE
REGULATIONS THAT RUSSIA HAS.
THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF LACK OF
LACK OF TRUST AND ENFORCEMENT
AMONG FARM WORKERS FOR THOSE
THAT THOSE WORKERS THAT DO REACH
CAL OSHA, MANY WORKERS SHARE
NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES INTERACTING
WITH DELICIOUS STAFF AND
DISTRICT OFFICES. SOMETIMES THEY
COUNTER STUFF THAT'S RUDE,
PATRONIZING, DISCOURAGING. UM
EVEN MYSELF. AS I BARELY
BILINGUAL ADVOCATE. I HAVE HAD
EXPERIENCES WHERE STAFF ARE
CONDESCENDING AND UNPROFESSIONAL
TO ME. WHEN WORKERS ARE ABLE TO
OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS AND FILE
THE COMPLAINT. AGENCIES OFTEN
LACK COMMUNICATION WITH WORKERS
OR COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS. THROUGHOUT THE
INVESTIGATION PROCESS, AND THIS
LEADS TO EVEN FURTHER
DISCOURAGEMENT. AS AN ADVOCATE
THE COMPLAINTS I FILE MOST OFTEN
RECEIVED NO FOLLOW UP FROM THE
AGENCY. I USUALLY RECEIVE A
LETTER STATING THAT THE CASE HAS
BEEN CLOSED MANY MONTHS LATER
BECAUSE THERE WAS LACK OF
EVIDENCE DURING THE DURING THIS
TIME, MORE HAZARDS OCCUR AND THE
EXISTING ONES HAVE WORSENED.
CHRISTINA STORY HERE AND THE
ONES FROM MANY OF THE VARIOUS
FARM WORKERS WE HAVE HERE ARE
NOT UNUSUAL, AND WE HEAR OVER
AND OVER AGAIN THAT EMPLOYERS
ARE BEING TOLD ABOUT INSPECTIONS
BEFORE CAL OSHA ARRIVES. THIS
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION ISSUE HAS
BEEN TOLD MANY, MANY TIMES OVER
AND OVER TO, UH, THE AGENCY. UM,
THAT ALLOWS FIELDS OF RISERS TO
CLEAN UP THE WORK SITE AND TELL
THEIR EMPLOYEES WHAT TO SAY TO
CAL OSHA. THESE INTERACTIONS
SHOW A LOT OF LACK OF URGENCY
AND A LOT OF LACK OF RESPECT
TOWARDS FARM WORKERS, HEALTH AND
SAFETY. THIS USUALLY PROMPTS
FARM WORKERS TO HAVE NEGATIVE
ATTITUDES. UM, BECAUSE THEY
USUALLY NEVER HEAR BACK. AND SO
TO BEGIN TACKLING THESE ISSUES
ARE WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN
DESIGNING AN EXPERT NAVIGATOR
PILOT PROGRAM, WHERE STAFF AND
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WITH THE EXPERIENCE IN FARMER
COMMUNITIES WHERE, UM, RECEIVE
HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING. AND
CERTIFICATION NEEDED TO MAKE
THIS ENFORCEMENT MORE EFFECTIVE
BY CONDUCTING FIELD MONITORING
TO COLLECT EVIDENCE VIOLATIONS
SIMILAR TO ANALLY SHARED TODAY
HERE. UM. AS WORKERS WOULD SEE
THAT THERE'S MORE IMMEDIATE
ACTION TAKEN BY EXPERT
NAVIGATORS TO RESPOND TO THEIR
HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPLAINTS. UH
THERE WOULD BE MORE SUCCESS. IF
SINCE THESE EXPERT NAVIGATORS
THAT WE'RE DESIGNING CAN COLLECT
EVIDENCE WITHOUT PUTTING
WORKERS' JOBS AT RISK, AND MORE
FARM WORKERS WILL COME FORWARD
WITH MORE TESTIMONIES. SO WITH
THESE EXPERT NAVIGATORS, KALUSHA
WILL BE ABLE TO FIND MORE.
WORKSITES EFFICIENTLY BUILD
STRONGER CASES AGAINST PROBLEMS
AND WITHSTAND THE APPEALS AND
SHARE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND
TESTIMONY. AND THIS CAN LEAD TO
MORE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND
THIS NEED FOR SIMILAR PROGRAMS
AT THE ORGANIZATION. UM WOULD
ALSO HAVE A LOT OF FARMWORKERS
TRUST. AND SO WE WERE HAPPY TO
SEE THAT THERE WAS 36. I'M
ALMOST GOOD ONE LAST POINT. YES
SO WE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE
THAT IN THE JANUARY BUDGET,
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD
THAT COULD BE USED TO SUPPORT
THESE EXPERT NAVIGATORS THAT WE
DESIGNED, UM, A SEPARATE BUDGET
REQUEST, OR MAYBE ST GRAND
DOLLARS COULD ALSO BE USED TO
INVEST IN MODEL IN THIS MODEL.
UM SO WE JUST URGED THE STATE TO
INVEST IN. UM ARE ORGANIZATIONS
INTERESTED PARTNERS BOTH TELL
OSHA AND FARMWORKER COMMUNITIES
SO YOU KNOW, PLEASE HELP US
SUPPORT OUR FARM WORKERS. THANK
YOU. THANK YOU. I WILL NOW OPEN
IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FROM OUR
COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORIA. GOOD
MORNING. MOVE OVER HERE BECAUSE
I DON'T HAVE A MIC WHEN I WAS,
YES, MR MARKETING LAWS. UM
TRABAJADORES CHRISTINA VICTOR
GRACIAS. POR LA PRESENTATION.
INFORMATION CANNOT STAND
PREVENTIVA AND ALSO THROUGH
MOST, UM. PRESENT SOLUTIONS, BUT
I SAID LOS CAMPESINOS AND
STRUGGLE WITH THAT C STAND
REPRESENT A DOSE PERONI IN
AUSTIN, AUSTIN REPRESENTATIVES
BROCATO MEDICINE, UH, TENOR LAWS
THAT I CHOSE IS THAT BROUGHT THE
HEROES AND LA CITY, ETCETERA.
GRACIAS UM, THANK YOU. WHAT I
JUST SAID I WAS THANK YOU FOR TO
VICTOR. AND TO CHRISTINA. I KNOW
CHRISTINE ACTUALLY IS FROM MY
DISTRICT FROM MADEIRA. I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR THEIR TESTIMONY.
AND PRESENTING, YOU KNOW SOME OF
THE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT
THEY DO. SEE, FACED, UM IN THE
WORKPLACE. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A
STRONG BELIEVER IN THAT WORKERS,
REGARDLESS OF BEING REPRESENTED
OR NOT, SHOULD BE PROTECTED IN
THE WORKPLACE. YOU KNOW, AS A
DAUGHTER OF FARM WORKERS, UM I
ALSO INTIMATELY KNOW SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES THAT MY PARENTS
EXPERIENCE, UH, BEING, UH, YOU
KNOW, FARM WORKERS THAT WERE
NEVER REPRESENTED BOTH IN THE
FIELDS AND THE PACKING SHEDS. UM
AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR
THAT. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN
FIGURING OUT AND, UM, HEARING
FROM OSHA. YOU KNOW, ON SOME OF
THESE ISSUES AND ANSWERING TO,
YOU KNOW, WHY IS IT THAT WE
DON'T HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE
READILY AVAILABLE, UM,
CULTURALLY, LINGUISTICALLY
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER TO THE
RESPONSE TO THE CONCERNS AND THE
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, REPORTS OF
VIOLATIONS IN THE WORK PLACE.
I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN HEARING
ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TRAINING.
SOME OF THESE WORK. THE WORKERS
IN. THE AGENCY RECEIVED THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE ARE CONDESCENDING
AND YOU KNOW, UH, GOVERNMENT
WORK AS PUBLIC SERVICE. AND IF
YOU'RE THERE, YOU SHOULD LOVE
YOUR JOB AND WANT TO DO A JOB
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO SERVE, AND IT REALLY
INFURIATES ME TO HEAR THAT. YOU
KNOW THESE VULNERABLE WORKERS
WORKERS THAT ARE, UM MOST OF THE
TIME NOT WILLING TO CALL BECAUSE
THEY GET TREATED LIKE CRAP. UM
THAT WHEN THEY CALL A STATE
AGENCY, UH, THEY'RE NOT
RESPONSIVE IN MEETING THE NEEDS,
AND SO THAT'S REALLY
DISAPPOINTING. AND SO I DO HAVE
TO STEP OUT FOR ANOTHER THING,
BUT I DO WANT I HOPE THAT OSHA
WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REALLY SHARE. YOU KNOW WHAT IS
GOING ON? I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME
OF THE DATA IN TERMS OF THE
COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN
REPORTED IN THE OUTCOMES. UM IF
YOU KNOW, WE SEE A LOT OF
COMPLAINTS, AND THEN THEY
SUPPOSEDLY GET RESOLVED BECAUSE
THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I REALLY
WANT TO KIND OF BETTER
UNDERSTAND? UH YOU KNOW WHAT IS
REALLY GOING ON AND HOW WE'RE
TRULY DOCUMENTING WHAT PEOPLE
ARE EXPERIENCING OUT IN THE
FIELDS. SO AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE. UM COMING ALL THE
WAY TO SACRAMENTO. I KNOW THAT
IT'S NOT EASY FOR OUR WORKERS TO
TAKE TIME OFF TO COME AND
ADVOCATE ON NOT JUST THEIR
BEHALF BUT ON BEHALF OF WORKERS
ACROSS THE STATE. THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER'S SORRY, I YOU
KNOW, I WHEN I ECHO YOUR
COMMENTS, UM IN MY OPENING
STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, AND WE
WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE
FROM OCEAN OR LABOR DEPARTMENT,
YOU KNOW, BUT I DID MAKE A
STATEMENT AND I ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THIS IS HAPPENING WHEN WE
HAD 100 AND $9 BILLION SURPLUS.
AND IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A BANK THAT
WENT UNDER 70. YOU KNOW, UH,
SILICON VALLEY BANK. WE SAVED
THAT BANK IN 72 HOURS. WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT YEARS OF YEARS OF
WORKERS IN OUR FARMS. BEING YOU
KNOW, DISRESPECTED AND NOT
HAVING ACCESS TO BASIC NEEDS
THAT WE HAVE THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA SHOULD BE GIVING. AND
TO SAY I'M INFURIATED
UNDERSTATEMENT. UM TO SAY THAT,
YOU KNOW, I SAID, I'M COMMITTED
TO THIS ISSUE, AND I MEAN IT. I
WILL BE ASKING FOR AN OSHA AUDIT
BECAUSE. AGAIN. IT JUST I DON'T
WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE EXCUSES.
EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE YEAR AFTER
YEAR UNDER RESOURCE UNDERFUNDED.
WE JUST CAME OUT OF BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN SURPLUS. WITH THAT.
UH I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WANTS TO HOLD ON ONE SECOND HOLD
ON ONE SECOND. I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE HOW SERIOUS WE ARE
ABOUT THIS, UH, COMMITTEE? UM
SENATOR CORTEZ E, WHO IS MY
COLLEAGUE ON THE SENATE SIDE HAS
JOINED US. HE'S ALSO THE LABOR
AND EMPLOYMENT CHAIR. AND YOU
KNOW, WE'RE LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR HIM TO SAY IF YOU WORDS WILL
GIVE YOU TWO SECONDS. 15 I JUST
WANTS TO SHE WANTS TO SHARE
SOMETHING TO RESPOND. SEE ME THE
IS THE YOU KNOW, MASS CORREA
CONTEST ARE SO COMMENTARY. OKAY
SO ESMERALDA SORIA IS THE CS
THOMAS AND NODOZ LAWS. SUPERB
BATTISTA SEE? NO SOME TRABAJO
PARA DAR KNOWS IN FORMATION AS
KHADEM OLYMPE ESA TRABAJADORES
LOOK AT THE NAME A SCALE. THE.
SOBRE LA COSA SEXUAL SEVERAL
OLYMPIA TO THE AREA THAT OKAY? S
O S A DENTRO HILARIA DETROL, UM,
UNDERSTANDING FORMATION. CAMPO
IN L FEEL AS ULTRA LÀ. ANTON
SAYS NO CITRUS COMMOLI, THE IT'S
THOMAS DECEPTION, NODOZ AND ASIA
CAMPESINO REPORT AMOS MAMA'S
PARA CERONE, UM PERO. GHASSAN
LOSS PATRON IS SUPPORTING THE
SUPERVISORY MATURED ALMOST.
ALAIN PIERRE ELLARIA, BUT SUPER
VISAR? YES THANK YOU INTRODUCE
PARENTAL LARRY ANTON SAYS AH,
YEARS ON THE NOSE OTRAS RAMOS
ASIA. EDEN SASSI. ANOTHER
EXCEPTION LABARGA. THANK YOU. I
JUST WANTED TO, UM ANSWER REAL
QUICK. YOUR YOUR COMMENTS, MISS
ESMERALDA SORIA? AYE. WE ARE
TRAINED WE, UM THE CONTRACTOR
DOES, UM. GATHERERS AND AREA AT
THE WORK SITE TO GIVE US
INFORMATION REGARDING THE
CLEANLINESS. UM OUR RIGHTS AS
WORKERS. WHAT WE HAVE TO, UM,
HOW WE HAVE TO GO TO WORK
REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE. UM
REGARDING THE CLEANLINESS IN OUR
WORK AREA, BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT
THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE HOST THE
TRAINING. BUT ONCE WE ARE OUT IN
THE FIELDS IN IN THE HARVEST
AREA, THE SITUATION IS ANOTHER.
SO UH, WE ONCE AGAIN AS I HAD
MENTIONED WE ARE WE FEEL LET
DOWN. IT FEELS LIKE AN INJUSTICE
BECAUSE US AS FARM WORKERS WHEN
WE REPORT WHEN WE, UH, CALLED TO
SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. UH WHAT DID
THE BOSSES DO? THEY GET TOGETHER
WITH THE SUPERVISORS WITH THE
FOREMAN AND THEY SEND US OFF TO
CLEAN THE AREA SO THAT WHEN THEY
GO THERE TO SUPERVISE THE AREA
LOOKS DIFFERENT THAN HOW IT WAS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FEEL LIKE
THIS IS AN INJUSTICE AND IT
MAKES US FEEL, UM JUST LET DOWN
TO BE VERY HONEST. THANK YOU,
SENATOR CORTESI. THANK YOU.
CHAIR. ORTEGA UH, IS, AS YOU
MENTIONED I SHARE THE POLICY
COMMITTEE ON THE SENATE SIDE
SENATE LABOR AND APPOINTMENT
COMMITTEE. UM AND JUST ABOUT A
YEAR AGO. SENATOR HER TATO AND I
DID A JOINT. UM WEBINAR ONLINE
HEARING. THIS IS MUCH BETTER,
FOR COURSE TO HAVE WITNESSES
HERE AND HAVE HAVE EVERYONE HERE
PRESENT. BUT I WANTED TO POINT
TO THE FACT THAT THAT HEARING
WAS AN EYE OPENER. NOT THAT WE
DON'T KNOW TO YOUR POINT CHAIR
THAT THESE PROBLEMS AND BARRIERS
HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS
SINCE I WAS SINCE I WAS A YOUNG
PERSON PICKING PRUNES AND
SOUTHEAST SAN JOSE IN PROBABLY
BEFORE THEN. UM AND IT IS IT IS
TIME. IT'S BEYOND TIME THAT THAT
WE ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, UM AND
STOP MAKING EXCUSES BUT ON
REPORTING VIOLATIONS, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE LEARNED AND I'LL
BE BRIEF HERE. BUT ONE THING IS
THAT WE LEARNED THAT I KNOW IS
COMING OUT TODAY AS WELL IS THAT
THERE'S NOT JUST A BARRIER TO
REPORTING. UM BUT THE AGENCIES
THEMSELVES TOLD US THAT UM, IN
THIS SECTOR, THERE ARE MORE
WITHDRAWN. THERE ARE MORE
WITHDRAWN REPORTS, UM COMPLAINTS
THAN IN ANY OTHER LABOR SECTOR
IN THE STATE. WHY IS THAT? UM
WHY IS THAT? I DON'T THINK YOU
HAVE TO. ENGAGE IN IN TOO MUCH
SPECULATION OR CONJECTURE TO
KNOW THAT THERE'S THREATS OF
RETALIATION. THERE'S WHAT WAS
JUST DESCRIBED RECENTLY. POST
COMPLAINT REMEDIATION THAT SEEMS
TO UNDERMINE THE COMPLAINT
ITSELF, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.
WE'VE SEEN THIS OVER THE YEARS
CREEP INTO OTHER AREAS THAT FARM
WORKERS, YOU KNOW, HAVE MOVED
INTO, OR FARMWORKER FAMILIES
MOVE INTO DOMESTIC WORK. AH AND,
FRANKLY, WORKING MERCADOS IN
PLACES LIKE SAN JOSE, WHERE UH,
IF YOU SET UP AN ANONYMOUS LINE
FOR COMPLAINTS, YOU'LL FIND OUT
REAL SOON. THAT THAT FOLKS ARE
BEING THREATENED AND INTIMIDATED
IN TERMS OF ANY FOLLOW THROUGH
ON COMPLAINTS. THAT THAT CAN'T
HAPPEN IN THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA. WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT
A CALIFORNIA FOR ALL. WE CAN'T
CELEBRATE THE KINDS OF THINGS
WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATING THIS WEEK
WITH TRANSITION TO NEW
LEADERSHIP IN BOTH HOUSES
COMMITTED Tð. CALIFORNIA FOR ALL
ALL MEANS, INCLUDING FARM
WORKERS AND THOSE ANCILLARY TO
FARM LABOR AND FARM WORK. SO I
JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I'LL
CONCLUDE THERE. I DON'T WANT TO
DOMINATE THE DISCUSSION HERE.
BUT I WANT, UM, THOSE WHO ARE
TESTIFYING AND THOSE WHO ARE
LISTENING, AND THOSE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION TO THIS HEARING. I
KNOW THAT I'M ABSOLUTELY
COMMITTED TO ACCELERATING. UM
THE REMEDIES THAT SHOULD BE IN
PLACE AND THAT NEED TO BE IN
PLACE. FOR FARM LABOR AND FARM
WORKERS, AND I, TOO, SHARE
TICKET. JOIN YOU IN WHATEVER, UH
WHATEVER REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE
BUDGET ACTION OR NECESSARY. YOU
KNOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T
HAVE UNNECESSARY EXCUSES WHETHER
UM, LET ME JUST SAY IN ANY
AGENCY, I DON'T WANT TO CALL OUT
ANY AGENCY. BUT AGAIN, THESE
ISSUES HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR
YEARS. VACANT POSITIONS,
COMPLAINT DRIVEN PROCESSES THAT
AREN'T UM PROPERLY OR.
ADEQUATELY AUDITING, DIFFERENT,
UM DIFFERENT LABOR SITES. IF YOU
HAVE A COMPLAINT DRIVEN PROCESS
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING
COMPLAINTS OR INTIMIDATED NOT TO
MAKE COMPLAINTS. IT'S NOT GOING
TO WORK. WE NEED TO GO IN.
AFFIRMATIVELY AND PROACTIVELY IN
AND I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED TO
NOT ONLY FUN, BUT WE NEED TO
REWORK THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE
TAKING SO I'M WITH YOU ON THAT
ORTEGA AND LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO
MUCH IF THERE ARE NO OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE CAN
MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD PANEL.
THANK YOU. NEXT PANEL IS, UH,
LACK OF ENFORCEMENT AND THE
FIELD SO WE HAVE ON A STATION
RIGHT FRIEND A GILERA AND ERICA
CERVANTES.
OKAY I'M GONNA WHERE YOU KNOW
WE'RE WE HAVE ONE MORE PANEL
LEFT AFTER YOU SO ONCE AGAIN
REMINDING YOU WE HAVE FIVE
MINUTES FOR EACH OF YOU,
INCLUDING AND THEN FIVE MINUTES
FOR. TRANSLATION. UM AND OUR
FIRST PANELIST IS, UH,
ANASTACIA, RIGHT? YEAH, OKAY.
GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR
HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ANASTASIA.
NICOLE, RIGHT? I AM A POLICY
MANAGER AT WORK SAFE. AND I'M
HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
STAFFING CRISIS AT CAL OSHA. THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS CURRENTLY
FACING A VACANCY CRISIS. IN
PARTICULAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AGENCY,
CARLOS CARLOS TODAY IS IN A
STAFFING CRISIS THAT HAS GONE ON
FOR SO LONG AND RISK BEING
TREATED AS NORMAL. A THIRD OF
THE POSITIONS AT THIS VITAL WORK
OF PROTECTION AGENCY OR
UNFILLED. MEANING DANGEROUS
WORKPLACES ARE GOING
UNINSPECTED. COMPLAINTS FROM
INJURED WORKERS ARE ANSWERED
SLOWLY, IF AT ALL. IMPOSING
SUBSTANTIAL OBSTACLES TO THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A HOST OF
SIGNIFICANT NEW HEALTH AND
SAFETY RULES ADDRESSING
SILICOSIS, HEATSTROKE PACE OF
WORK ISSUES AND WAREHOUSES,
WILDFIRE SMOKE AND MORE. THE
STAFFING DATA TELLS TROUBLING
STORY OF A VITAL STATE AGENCY
THAT IS WORKING OUT OF A DEEP
HOLE. MUCH APPRECIATION TO
GARRETT BROWN, WHO WAS A DECADES
LONG EMPLOYEE OF CARL OSHA FOR
HIS WORK IN TRACKING THE
INFORMATION THAT I'M GOING TO
SITE TODAY. WE HAVE ENTIRE
OFFICES AROUND THE STATE AT 3040
50% VACANCY RATES FOR PERSONNEL
INVOLVED IN ENFORCING THE LAW.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VACANCIES
FOR CAL OSHA ENFORCEMENT IS 100
AND 33. AS OF THE END OF 2023.
THIS IS AN OVERALL VACANCY RATE
OF 38. SAN FRANCISCO SAN
BERNARDINO BAKER, SKILLED IN
LONG BEACH, ALL HAVE VACANCIES
BETWEEN 50 TO 67. THERE ARE ONLY
16 FILLED ENFORCEMENT INSPECTORS
AT CAL OSHA THAT ARE CERTIFIED
AND SPEAKING LANGUAGES OTHER
THAN ENGLISH AS WE HEARD FROM
THE PREVIOUS PANEL. THERE IS
ALSO A VACANCY RATE OF 32% IN
THE CAL OSHA LEGAL UNIT. THERE'S
REPORTEDLY JUST ONE PERSON IN
THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION UNIT
THAT SHOULD HAVE NINE STAFF AND
IT'S FACING A MASSIVE CASE
BACKLOG. THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST
ABSENT INSPECTORS BUT VITAL
ADMINISTRATIVE VACANCIES THAT
SUPPORT ALL OF THE AGENCIES
WORK. IN 2014 AND AGENCY
WATCHDOG REPORTED THAT THE
AGENCY HAS AN INSPECTOR TO
WORKER RATIO. OF ONE INSPECTOR
TO 102,000 WORKERS. THAT'S WORSE
THAN FED OCEANS RATIO OF 1 TO
66,000. AND IN OCTOBER 2023
UPDATE ALMOST A DECADE LATER.
THE RATIO IS WORSE. CALLUSES
INSPECTOR TO WORKER RATIO IS ONE
INSPECTOR FOR EVERY 110,000
WORKERS IN THE STATE. WE WANT TO
CALL OUT TO SPECIFIC IMPACTS
FROM THIS UNDERSTAFFING. THE
INCREASED RELIANCE ON LETTERS
INSTEAD OF ACTUAL
INVESTIGATIONS. AND AN INABILITY
TO COMMUNICATE WITH CALIFORNIA
WORKERS AND THE LANGUAGE THAT
THEY UNDERSTAND. LETTER
INSPECTIONS. IN 2000. CAL OSHA
DID 13,000 LETTER INVESTIGATIONS
OF BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE,
OF WHICH 3700 WERE DONE SIMPLY
BY MAILING A LETTER TO THE
EMPLOYER. THE REMAINDER INVOLVED
IN PERSON VISITS TO FOLLOW UP ON
A HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERN.
WE'VE SEEN A GROWING INCREASE IN
LETTER INVESTIGATIONS FROM 2010
UNTIL NOW IN 2022 DURING THE
PANDEMIC, ALMOST HALF OF THE
INVESTIGATIONS 6400 OUT OF
14,000 WERE BY LETTER. SECOND
LANGUAGE ACCESS AT WORK SAFE. WE
WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO
COME TO US WITH THEIR TAILS OF
WORKERS' STRUGGLES TO
COMMUNICATE WITH CARL. DUE TO
LANGUAGE BARRIERS AGAIN AS WE
HEARD FROM THE PREVIOUS PANEL.
KQED STUDY DOCUMENTED 19 SPANISH
BILINGUAL INSPECTORS JUST SERVE
A POPULATION OF OVER 2.3 MILLION
SPANISH SPEAKERS. ONE CANTONESE
BILINGUAL INSPECTOR IS SERVING
OVER 300,000 CANTONESE SPEAKING
WORKERS. 167,000 VIETNAMESE
SPEAKING WORKERS ARE SERVICED BY
ONE INSPECTOR AS WELL, AND
THERE'S ZERO INSPECTORS SERVING
SOME 600,000, CALIFORNIA WORKERS
WHO SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGES. THE
GOOD NEWS IS THERE THERE IS SOME
GOOD NEWS. CARLOS IS SHOULD BE
APPLAUDED FOR ITS MOVE TO
REORGANIZE AND REDIRECT
RESOURCES TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY
WITH A NEW OFFICE IN FRESNO,
MURATA LEFT. BUT IN FRESNO, WE
WELCOME THE AUGUST ANNOUNCEMENT
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS DIRECTOR HAGEN THAT
THIS IS A PLANNED EXPANSION.
THAT ENSURES A MORE PERMANENT
PRESENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
RECENT REPORTS BY CAL OSHA
LEADERSHIP TOO DEEPLY EMPHASIZED
THE IMPORTANCE OF HIRING. I
THINK THEY CALL IT HIRING
MONDAY'S, UM AND THEIR RETENTION
PLAN. THE PATH FORWARD WILL
REQUIRE THE NEED TO TAKE A FRESH
LOOK AT MANY BARRIERS. I KNOW
I'M ALMOST DONE. I'M SO SORRY.
MANY WE NEED TO LOOK AT MANY
BARRIERS, THE RESTRICTIVE
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. PROCESS
THE OPAQUE PROCESSES DESIGNED BY
AND FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN
ADVANCED DEGREES TO TAKE THESE
ROLES, BUT REPEL MANY QUALIFIED
EMPLOYEES ARE POSSIBLE EMPLOYEES
AND PROBLEMATIC INCENTIVES SUCH
AS PATHS TO SALARY AND CAREER
ADVANCEMENT THAT HAVE DRIVEN ALL
THE INDUSTRIAL HIGH GENESIS INTO
THE SAFETY ENGINEER
CLASSIFICATION. WE CAN ADDRESS
THIS BY PROGRAMS SUCH AS STEP
AND GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S CALLED TO
OPEN DOORS, THE PUBLIC SERVICE
AND WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT ON. I
BELIEVE TO OUR WORKER ADVOCATE
MARIA THANK YOU. SORRY FRIEND.
YOU'RE DOING THE TESTIMONY FOR
THE WORKER? YES. UH SO GOOD
MORNING CHAIR AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS GINA GILERA.
UM I'M A UNIVERSE REPRESENTATIVE
FOR UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL
WORKERS. LOCAL FIVE BEFORE THAT
I WAS A WORKER FOR FRESH EXPRESS
IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA PACKING
COMPANY FOR SIX YEARS, SO THAT'S
WHERE I BECOME ACTIVE WITH THE
UNION. UH UFCW LOCAL FIVE
REPRESENTS ABOUT 25,000 MEMBERS.
3500 OF THOSE MEMBERS ARE UNDER
THE AGRICULTURAL DIVISION, WHICH
INCLUDES FOREIGN WORKERS IN
PACKINGHOUSE WORKERS. WELL YOU
HAVE HEARD TODAY A LOT ABOUT THE
LACK OF GALLOWS ENFORCEMENT. AND
OF LAST MEANT TO PROTECT THE
FARM WORKERS FROM HISTORIES AND
WAGE DEAF. I'M GOING TO TALK TO
YOU TODAY ABOUT THE OTHER
IMPORTANT ISSUES OF FARMWORKERS
FACES THE FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATIONS AND CARDIAC CULTURAL
COMMISSIONERS. EXPOSURE OR
PESTICIDES IN THE LACK OF
APPLICATION NOTIFICATION. I HAVE
EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND ON HOW
HARMFUL BUSINESSES SERVICES
APPLICATIONS CAN BE. I HAVE BEEN
SEEING HELICOPTERS APPLYING
PESTICIDES OF FARMER ON FARMS
WITH WORKERS WORKING ON
NEIGHBORHOOD AND NEVER IN FIELDS
COMMUNITY TO DIRECT CONTACT WITH
PESTICIDES DRIFT BEST DECIDE TO
EXPOSURE IS UNDER REPORTED
BECAUSE WORKERS WERE RETALIATION
OR JOB LOSS. WORKERS RECEIVED
LITTLE TO NO BUSINESS SIDE
EXPOSURE, TRAINING AND THE LACK
OF PPE, UM, MAKES IT A LOT
WORSE. AND THE LACK ALSO, HEALTH
INSURANCE THAT COVERS UH,
COVERAGE MAKES THEM SEEKING
FINANCIALLY RESTRICTIVE FOR
WORKERS. FARM WORKERS THAT
PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED AND A
CURING CHRONIC EFFECTS OF
ASSOCIATED WITH PESTICIDE
EXPOSURE. BEST DISCIPLES IT
POISONING AND SIT INCIDENTS ARE
RATES AMONG THE U. S. FARM
WORKERS IS 39 TIMES HIGHER. THEN
THE INCIDENT RAID FOUND IN ALL
OTHER INDUSTRIES COMBINED.
THANKS IN PART OF OUR CURE
CENTERS INCLUDE RASHES, UH,
READING DIFFICULTIES, MISSION
CHANGES, DIGESTION ISSUES AND
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DISORDERS. UH WE HAVE MEMBERS,
UH, HAVING GONE TO THE HOSPITAL
DUE TO PESTICIDE PORTION EARLY,
EVEN THOUGH OUR CONTRACTS HAVE
PROTECTIONS LANGUAGE, UM AND
REGARDS THE TO THE SAFETY AND
HEALTH OF OUR MEMBERS. FOR
EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO LOCAL FIVE
MEMBER THAT IS A MARTINEZ AND
HER CO WORKERS FROM POLAND
COMPANY HIM FOR EXPERIENCE
HEADACHES. THIS NOUS NOW CHEF
AMERINE, EVERYTHING THAT I STAND
AND IN THE THROAT ADDITIONAL
WORKERS. GETTING EXPERIENCE LONG
TERM CHRONIC EFFECTS. PESTICIDES
EXPOSURE. UH, THIS AFFECTS
INCLUDE CANCER. HORMONE
DISORDERS, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
ISSUES, DEFECTS AND LEARNING AND
LEARNING DISORDERS. UFC LOCAL
FIVE MEMBER MARIA HERNANDEZ WAS
EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES WITHOUT
WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING. THAT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN
FIELD WAS BEING APPLIED WITH
PESTICIDES. MARIA WAS PREGNANT.
AT THAT TIME. HMM AND SHE WAS
DOING EXERCISE DURING THE LUNCH
TIME. RIGHT AROUND THE PARKING
LOT OF FRESH EXPRESS COMPANY.
THIS EXPOSURE COUNSELOR DAUGHTER
TO EXPERIENCE BIRTH DEFECTS, AND
SHE NOW HAS THE SPEECH PROBLEMS
AND LEARNING DISABILITIES. WELL
BUSINESSES. EXPOSURE HAPPENS
DIRECTLY AND REGULARLY IN THE
FARMWORKER COMMUNITY. TO THE TO
THEIR FAMILIES. THE DPR IN THE C
A. C. WHO ARE IN THE IN CHARGE
OF ENFORCING PESTICIDES.
PROTECTIONS FOR FARM WORKERS
OFTEN LACKS IN APARTMENT
ENFORCEMENT. PESTICIDE
REGULATIONS. SIMILAR TO THE
ENFORCEMENT ISSUES. YOU HAVE HER
WITH CAL OSHA. MANY OF THOSE
ISSUES ARE PRESENT AT THE DPR.
WHEN A VIOLATION DOES OCCUR. IT
IS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE C A.
C S N D. P R BECAUSE OF THE LACK
OF LANGUAGE ACCESSIBILITY AND
AFTER THEIR INVESTIGATION
RESULTED SYRUP AND ALL THESE OR
VERY SMALL PENALTIES FOR THEIR
COMPANIES THAT MADE THE
VIOLATIONS. FURTHERMORE WE WANT
TO SHARE ARE DISAPPOINTED WITH
DPR IGNORING STANDARDS
ESTABLISHED WITH THE STATE
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AND HAZARD ASSESSMENT. DPR
ALLOWS BESTEST SIZE THEY HAVE
CANCER CALCIUM RACE 14 TIMES
HIGHER THAN WE HAVE SAFE HARBOR
LEVEL RECOMMENDED. TO MAKE HIM
MATTERS WORSE THAN DULL CHEMICAL
HAS CALLED 50 MCG PER DAY. UM
AND THAT IS 14 TIMES. WHAT HAS
BEEN FOUND TO BE CANCER CAUSING
DANGER LEVELS. UH UM, WARNINGS.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
THAT'S WHAT I CALL UM WHAT IS
THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITIES,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LATINO
FARMWORKERS LIES 14 TIMES LESS
IMPORTANT THAN THE REST OF THE
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS THAT DON'T
LIVE IN RURAL RURAL BLACK
COMMUNITIES. SOME OF THE
SOLUTIONS. WE ARE URGED THE DPR
AND THE AND THE COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS TO
ADOPT ARE PROTECTING WORKERS
FROM RETALIATION. AFTER
REPORTING PESTICIDES RELATED ON
THIS, INCREASING THE MINIMUM
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS ARE
BEST TO SAY USE AND WORKER
SAFETY LAWS. AND, OF COURSE, THE
INCONSISTENT FORCE MINT OF THE
PESTICIDES AND WORKER SAFETY
LAWS ACROSS ALL COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONS,
COMMISSIONERS. THE FACTION IN
YOUR MATERIALS. HAS MORE
INFORMATION ON THE POLICY
SOLUTIONS WE AND OTHER ADVOCATES
PROPOSED TO STRAIN THE
ENFORCEMENT, PESTICIDES
REGULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK
YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ERIKA
CERVANTES. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY
NAME IS ERIC CORREA, CERVANTES
AND I AM A COMMUNITY AND POLICY
ADVOCATE WITH CENTRAL COAST
ALLIANCE UNITED FOR A
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY OR CAUSE IN
SANDTON, THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA
IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY. AS A
DAUGHTER OF FARMWORKER PARENTS,
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WAS A FARM
WORKER HERSELF. I HAVE WITNESSED
AND EXPERIENCED THE HARMFUL
EFFECTS DUE TO THE LACK OF
ENFORCEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL
FIELDS. WORKERS ARE IN DANGER
EVERY DAY WHEN THEY ARE NOT
TRAINED EVERY DAY THAT A
RESTROOM IS NOT AVAILABLE TO
THEM. AND EVERY SUMMER WHEN THE
SUN BURNS ABOVE THEM, AND THEY
THIRST FOR COOL, REFRESHING
WATER TO EASE THEIR BURNING
THROATS, BUT ARE INSTEAD GIVEN
WHAT WARM WATER FOR THEIR
ALREADY HEATED BODY
TEMPERATURES. THESE ARE THE LIFE
THREATENING SITUATIONS THAT
UNFORTUNATELY MY FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE
EVERY DAY FOR EVERY YEAR OF
THEIR LIVES. AS AN ADVOCATE. I
HAVE LEARNED THAT AGENCY SUCH AS
CAL OSHA EXIST WITH THE MISSION
TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY
OF EVERY WORKER. UNFORTUNATELY I
HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH OF THIS
MISSION FULFILLED. IN THE LAST
PANELS. YOU HEARD ABOUT ALL THE
BARRIERS WORKERS FACE TO FINALLY
COMPLAINTS WITH STATE AGENCIES.
AND HOW THEY STRUGGLE JUST TO
FIND ONE PERSON WHO CAN TAKE
PROACTIVE MEASURES TO PROTECT
THEM. WHEN KARL APPEARS AT THEIR
WORK SITE, EMPLOYERS CERTAIN
WORKERS WITH JOB LOSS AND COERCE
THEM TO SAY WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE
SAID SO THAT THERE ISN'T A
SECOND GLANCE IN THEIR
DIRECTION. WE UNDERSTAND THE
VACANCY ISSUE THE AGENCY HAS
BEEN EXPERIENCING AND WE WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THAT WE ARE
ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT
COMMITMENT THAT CAL OSHA HAS
DEMONSTRATED IN PARTNERING WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE
COVID 19 WORKER OUTREACH
PROGRAM, OR C WALK. AND THE
PROPOSED RULE STRATEGIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT APPEARED
IN THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY
BUDGET. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS
COULD BE BUILT UPON TO INVEST IN
THE COMMUNITY EXPERT NAVIGATORS
THAT YOU, LISA AM BREEZE
PROPOSING PANEL TOO. HOWEVER
FROM ANESTHESIA RIGHTS TESTIMONY
AND FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I
KNOW THAT FARMWORKERS CALLS ARE
CURRENTLY GOING UNANSWERED.
THOUGH WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE
AGENCY'S EFFORTS TO WORK WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION,
THE AGENCY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
FILLING ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS,
LEADING TO UNANSWERED COMPLAINTS
AND RESULTING IN DISTRUST
BETWEEN THE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
AND WORKERS. THE AGENCY ITSELF
HAS TO CHANGE TO BE RESOURCEFUL
AND PROTECTIVE OF FARM WORKERS
SO THAT COMPLAINTS ARE
INVESTIGATED IN A TIMELY AND
PROFESSIONAL MANNER. WITH THAT
BEING SAID, WE WOULD LIKE TO
PROPOSE SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD
HELP. HEL STAFF, THE ENFORCEMENT
DIVISION WITH ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
THAT ARE LINGUISTICALLY AND
CULTURALLY COMPETENT TO SERVE
FARM WORKERS AND OTHER LOW WAGE
WORKERS. AS OF NOW, CURRENT
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR
INSPECTION JOBS ARE EXCLUSIVE
AND UNATTAINABLE. INSTEAD OF
EXCLUDING THESE WORKERS, THE
AGENCY NEEDS TO CREATE A VIABLE
PIPELINE OF WORKERS FROM HIGH
RISK INDUSTRIES INTO CAL OSHA'S
ENFORCEMENT BRANCH. ONE WAY TO
EXPAND ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS
WOULD BE FOR THE AGENCY TO
REPLICATE A MODEL LIKE THE
FEDERAL OSHA PROGRAM CALLED
STEP. OR THE SAFETY TECHNICIAN
AND HAS MET PROGRAM. STEP IS
DESIGNED TO OFFER SPECIALIZED
TRAINING AND CURRICULUM, WHERE
WORKERS CAN LEARN HEALTH AND
SAFETY CODES HOW TO DO AN
INSPECTION, WRITE A REPORT AND
SHADOW AND ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
BY FOLLOWING THIS MODEL, THE
AGENCY CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
TO WORKER LEADERS WHO COULD FILL
VACANCIES WITHIN THE AGENCY AND
WILL BRING IMPORTANT DIVERSITY
AND EXPERIENCE TO ON SITE CALLS.
MOREOVER FARM WORKERS AND EVEN
ADVOCATES HAVE SHARED HOW
DIFFICULT IT HAS BEEN TO
COMMUNICATE WITH CAL OSHA DUE TO
LIMITED SPANISH SPEAKING STAFF.
IN COMPARISON, THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE HAS
MULTIPLE SPANISH SPEAKING STAFF,
WHICH HAS MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE
IN BEING ABLE TO PROACTIVELY
WORK WITH THEM. CAL OSHA OFTEN
RELIES ON REMOTE PHONE
INTERPRETATION SERVICES WITH NO
EXPERTISE IN WORKPLACE SAFETY.
JUST AS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD,
WHICH REQUIRES SPECIALIZED
INTERPRETER, TRAINING WORKERS
AND HEALTH SAFETY. CAN BE LIFE
OR DEATH AND WORKERS DESERVE
SKILLED INTERPRETERS WITH
KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT ARE
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PROFESSIONAL
TO ENSURE THEY CAN COMMUNICATE
THE WORKPLACE HAZARDS. WE
PROPOSE THAT THE AGENCY
ESTABLISHED FULL TIME
INTERPRETER POSITIONS IN
DISTRICT OFFICES SERVING HIGH
FARMWORKER POPULATIONS. WHILE
HAVING BILINGUAL INSPECTION
STAFF THAT SPEAK MULTIPLE
LANGUAGES THAT FARMWORKERS SPEAK
. IS THAT THE IDEAL WE KNOW THAT
THE CURRENT UNATTAINABLE
QUALIFICATIONS FOR THESE
POSITIONS OUR WOODEN SHIRT. WE
KNOW THAT THESE POSITIONS MAKING
FINDING QUALIFIED BILINGUAL
INSPECTORS ARE EXTREMELY HARD.
CREATING FULL TIME AND SPANISH
INTERPRETATION POSITIONS WOULD
ENSURE THAT INTERPRETERS ARE
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAL OCEAN
INFORMATION AND INCREASED VIA
PHONE OR DURING AN INSPECTION IN
THE FIELD WOULD BE TRULY
ACCESSIBLE TO SPANISH SPEAKING
WORKERS AND ADVOCATES. LASTLY WE
ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE CHIEF OF
CAL OSHA IS NO LONGER WITH THE
AGENCY. AS A GOVERNOR SEEKS TO
FILL THE POSITION. WE IMPLORE
HIM TO APPOINT SOMEONE WHO HAS
EXPERIENCE WITH ENFORCEMENT AND
MANAGEMENT AND PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF PARTNERING
SUCCESSFULLY WITH CBOS AND
PRIORITIZING LANGUAGE,
ACCESSIBILITY AND JUSTICE. WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE BUDGET
IS TIGHT, BUT CAL OSHA HAS HAD A
SIGNIFICANT VACANCY RATE FOR
MANY YEARS, AND IT IS TIME TO
REALLOCATE THAT MONEY TOWARDS
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL BEGIN TO
ADDRESS THE CHRONIC
UNDERSTAFFING BY ATTRACTING
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
COMPETENT STAFF. THESE HARDER
THIS WORKING CONDITIONS ARE AN
EMERGENCY AND SHOULD BE TREATED
AS SUCH IF WE VALUE AGRICULTURE
AND ENSURING THAT FAMILIES ARE
FED, COULDN'T WE AT LEAST
PROTECT THE FAMILIES THAT FEED
US? THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FOR
THIS PANEL BY OUR COMMITTEE
MEMBERS. I'LL START AND I SHOULD
HAVE STARTED TODAY BY
APPRECIATING THE CHAIR FOR
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT ON
THE DIET TODAY TO BE ABLE TO ASK
QUESTIONS. BUT I DO WANT TO
BRING BACK CHRISTINA'S COMMENT
FROM THE PREVIOUS PANEL
REGARDING THE INJUSTICE THAT
HAPPENS FOR TOO MANY FARM
WORKERS WHO ARE MAKING CALLS
THAT ARE GOING UNANSWERED. AND
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF
THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU MADE
REGARDING THE VACANCY RATES AND
THE EFFORTS THAT OSHA CAN DO TO
HELP TO STRENGTHEN SO THAT THOSE
CALLS CAN BE ANSWERED IN A
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
COMPETENT WAY. AS WELL AS
UPLIFTING THE CBOS WHO HAVE BEEN
IN THIS SPACE FOR DECADES, DOING
THE HARD WORK OF BEING THOSE
TRUSTED MESSENGERS, BUT IT LEADS
TOWARDS DISTRUST WHEN OUR FARM
WORKERS WHO ARE FEARING
RETALIATION OR MAKING CALLS THAT
ARE GOING UNANSWERED. IT LEADS
TOWARDS THAT INJUSTICE THAT SHE
SPEAKING ABOUT, AND SO I LIKE TO
FLIP THE QUESTION. WHERE'S THE
JUSTICE AND HAVING A 38% VACANCY
RATE? WHERE IS THE JUSTICE WE
HAVE WHEN THEY'RE GIVING
ADVANCED NOTICE TO THE EMPLOYERS
THAT THEY'RE COMING OUT TO DO AN
INSPECTION AND THEN ASKING THE
WORKERS TO CLEAN UP THE SITES
THAT THEY'VE JUST COMPLAINED
ABOUT. I THINK WE HAVE TO ASK
THESE QUESTIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT AND WANT TO ASK
THROUGH THE CHAIR TO MAKE SURE
THAT SHE'S ELEVATING THOSE
QUESTIONS DURING OUR NEXT PANEL
AND WANTED TO THANK THIS PANEL
FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL. ABSOLUTELY OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND OUR FINAL
PANEL, OUR STATE AGENCY RESPONSE
HERE TODAY WE HAVE SEBASTIAN
SANCHEZ. LILIA GARCIA BROWER AND
DEBRA LEE. OKAY WE HAVE DEANNA
PING, WHO IS HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS AS WELL. THANK YOU, UH
, FOR BEING HERE TODAY WE'VE
HEARD A LOT FROM WORKERS AND
ADVOCATE UM, YOU'VE HEARD FROM
ME. AT THE BEGINNING. UM YOU
KNOW, STORIES OF RETALIATION.
WAGE AND HEALTH AND SAFETY
VIOLATIONS. THREATS. INJURIES
AND IN SOME CASES, DEATH. AND.
ALL THIS HAPPENED WHILE WE HAD
PLENTY OF MONEY. SO UM, I WANT
TO TAKE THIS TIME TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY OR RESPOND. BUT ALSO
KEEP WHAT I SAID IN MIND. I KNOW
WE'RE IN A BUDGET DEFICIT. BUT I
DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
BUDGET DISCIPLINE DEFICIT. UM
AND I WANT TO HEAR SOLUTIONS
JUST LIKE YOU HEARD FROM MY
OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM, AND
THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING UM SO
WITH THAT I WILL ASK SEBASTIAN
SANCHEZ, WHO IS HERE, DECORATES
SECRETARY FOR I'LL LET YOU
INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THANK YOU.
CHAIR, TEGA. GOOD MORNING. MY
NAME IS CELESTINE SANCHEZ. I AM
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR
IMMIGRANT AND AGRICULTURE
WORKFORCE AT THE STATE'S LABOR
AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
AGENCY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH
YOU TODAY. I WANT TO THANK ALL
THE WORKERS THAT WERE HERE TODAY
AS WELL. AND ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK THEY IN
THE OUT TO SUPPORT THEM. I'M
VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE WORK
WITH ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS
ON A REGULAR BASIS IN A VARIETY
OF FORUMS AND GREATLY APPRECIATE
THE INSIGHT THAT THEY PROVIDE TO
US AS WE DEVELOP OUR STRATEGY.
UH THE AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE IS
A PRIORITY FOR THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND FOR LABOR
AGENCY. SECRETARY KNOX HAS MADE
IT A POINT TO INSIST THAT ALL OF
OUR DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND
PANELS BE ENGAGED AND WORKING TO
IMPROVE THE LIVES AND WORKING
CONDITIONS OF FARM WORKERS. AS
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, WE RECENTLY
ANNOUNCED $26 MILLION IN FUNDING
FOR FARMWORKER TRAINING THAT IS
MEANT TO ALSO IMPROVE THE
QUALITY OF WORK AND THE WAGES
FOR FARM WORKERS. THE ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE TODAY
ARE NOT NEW AS WE ALL KNOW. UM
WE HAVE READ THE REPORTS. WE'VE
DISCUSSED THESE ISSUES WITH ITS
STAKEHOLDERS AND MULTIPLE FORUMS
, AND WE ARE WELL AWARE THAT
FARM WORKERS CONTINUE TO
EXPERIENCE VIOLATIONS IN THE
WORK PLACE. AH THAT THERE ARE
SEVERE OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF
THEM TO REPORT THOSE VIOLATIONS,
WHETHER IT IS NOT KNOWING WHERE
TO GO, WHO TO CONTACT OR NOT
HAVING INFORMATION THAT IS
LINGUISTICALLY OR CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE FOR THEM? UM OR NOT
EVEN TRUSTING THAT THE
ENFORCEMENT PROCESS WILL
FUNCTION. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A FEW
MOMENTS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME
EXAMPLES OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE
ENGAGED IN OVER THE RECENT PAST
TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AND TO
IMPROVE THE SERVICES PERFORM
WORKERS. UH ALONG WITH HER
BETTER KNOWN OUTREACH PROGRAM IN
RESPONSE TO THE COVID 19
PANDEMIC, WE HAD THE COVID 19
WORKER OUTREACH PROJECTS. WE
ALSO DEVELOPED AND LAUNCHED THE
STATEWIDE AGRICULTURE AND FARM
WORKER EDUCATION PROGRAM SAFE.
WE LAUNCHED THIS IN CONJUNCTION
WITH THE èC DAVIS WESTERN
CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL HEALTH
AND SAFETY. THIS PROGRAM WAS
DEVELOPED TO FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY
ON CREATING CONTENT TO REACH
FARM WORKERS TO WORK IN
CONJUNCTION WITH COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER ACTS.
STAKEHOLDERS TO DISTRIBUTE
INFORMATION TO FARM WORKERS
DIRECTLY IN THE FIELDS WHERE
THEY WORK WHERE THEY LIVE AND
WHERE THEY CONGREGATE. UH THIS
PROGRAM ALONE SINCE NOVEMBER OF
2020. THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
REPORTED ENGAGING OVER A MILLION
INDIVIDUALS. WE'VE DEVELOPED 125
VIDEOS IN 22 LANGUAGES,
INCLUDING 14 INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES WITH THE SUPPORT OF
CBD. I Ó OTHER EFFORTS AND
YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM ACTING
CHIEFLY, AND LABOR COMMISSIONER
GARCIA BUT OUR UM BUT CARLOS
LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE WITH THE
UC MERCED COMMUNITY AND LABOR
CENTER TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR
DISTRICT OFFICES. WORKERS AND
ADVOCATES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY.
UH IN RESPONSE TO AN ASK FROM
THE CAMPBELL COALITION. WE
EXTENDED OUR HOTLINE HOURS UNTIL
SEVEN PM AND WE'VE REALLY
REVIVED THE AGRICULTURAL SAFETY
AND HEALTH INSPECTION PROJECT TO
CONDUCT REGULAR INSPECTION OF
SANITATION AND IN THE FIELDS IN
RESPONSE TO ADVOCATE REQUESTS.
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER HAS
REALLY LED THE WAY IN LAUNCHING
MONTHLY CLINICS WITH MY CUP DOWN
IN SANTA MARIA WITH TOE DECK AND
THE INLAND EMPIRE AS WELL WITH
CBD I O AND FRESNO AND MADERA
AND I'LL SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS. THE
AGRICULTURAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD. CREATED AN OUTREACH TEAM
IN 2018. THEY HAD 37 OUTREACH
EVENTS REACHING JUST OVER 5000
WORKERS. LAST YEAR, THEY HELD
276 EVENTS AND ENGAGED OVER
23,000 WORKERS. THEY ALSO SEND
AN ATTORNEY TO THE CAUSE OFFICES
IN SANTA MARIA TO DO INTAKE
DIRECTLY WITH WORKERS. I
COORDINATE A MONTHLY FARMWORKER
COLLABORATION CALL WITH ALL OF
OUR DEPARTMENTS TO DISCUSS OUR
OUTREACH EFFORTS, EMERGING
ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO
COLLABORATE ON ENFORCEMENT. UH
WE, INCLUDING THESE CALLS CDF, A
HCB DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS
CONTROL DEPARTMENT OF PESTICIDE
REGULATION, CIVIL RIGHTS
DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. UH
THIS CALL HAS GIVEN RISE TO TWO
MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING
THAT ARE MEANT TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES THAT FARMWORKERS SPACE.
THE FIRST IS AN INTERNAL MOU TO
FACILITATE AND STREAMLINED THE
SHARING OF INFORMATION ACROSS
OUR AGENCY ENFORCEMENT CAN
HAPPEN ACROSS THE BOARD
COLLECTIVELY. THE SECOND IS AN
MOU WITH THE MEXICAN CONSUL
GENERAL TO BETTER REACH MEXICAN
NATIONALS. AND AS WE KNOW OVER
80% OF OUR FARM WORKERS ARE
MEXICAN NATIONALS. NOW AS I SAID
, WE KNOW THAT THE GAPS CONTINUE
TO EXIST AND THAT WE NEED TO
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ENFORCEMENT
EFFORTS AT THE SECRETARY'S
REQUEST. I HAVE SPENT THE PAST
YEAR WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS ON DEVELOPING A
STRATEGY AROUND THREE KEY GOALS.
THE FIRST IS TO INCREASE ACCESS
TO IN PERSON SERVICES FOR FARM
WORKERS. WE WANT TO BUILD ON THE
LABOR COMMISSIONER'S MODEL OF
HAVING IN PERSON AND REGULAR
MONTHLY CLINICS AND FARMWORKER
COMMUNITIES SO THAT WORKERS CAN
RECEIVE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
AND ALSO FILE COMPLAINTS WITH
ANY OF OUR ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES
SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO
LOOKING FOR WHICH ONE THEY NEED
TO REPORT TO. WE WANT TO
ESTABLISH AND NO WRONG BOARD
POLICY FOR WORKERS TO HAVE
EFFICIENT INTERNAL COORDINATION
SO THAT IF A WORKER CONTACTS ANY
OF OUR OUTREACH OR ENFORCEMENT
STAFF, THERE WILL BE WARMLY
REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE
ENFORCEMENT ENTITY THAT SHOULD
SUPPORT THEM. AND THIRD. WE WANT
TO SIMPLIFY ACCESS TO
INFORMATION FOR WORKERS. THAT
MEANS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AUDIO AND VISUAL TOOLS,
PARTICULARLY IN INDIGENOUS
LANGUAGES TO BETTER DEVELOP THE
AWARENESS OF FARM WORKERS. THE
RURAL STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
PROGRAM BUDGET CHANGE PROPOSAL
THAT WAS IN THE GOVERNOR'S
BUDGET IS MEANT TO HELP FUND
THESE EFFORTS. UH IT PROVIDES
FUNDING FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO
LAUNCH THE CLINICS. UH FUNDING
FOR STAFFING TO ENSURE WE HAVE
THE CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER THESE
PROGRAMS. TRAINING FOR OUR STAFF
AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
AVERAGE MATERIALS. GIVE ME ONE
SECOND. JUST LAST WEEK, WE
CONVENED ALL OF OUR EXECUTIVE
LEADERSHIP AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
FROM AGRICULTURAL LABOR
RELATIONS BOARD, THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER CARLO SHA E. D. D
DIVISION OF WORKERS COMP TO
DISCUSS HOW WE WILL IMPLEMENT
THIS AND MOVE FORWARD, AND IT IS
OUR HOPE TO CONTINUE TO WORK
CLOSELY WITH ALL OF THE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS HERE, AS WELL
AS EMPLOYERS AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS. TO EXECUTE ON THE
STRATEGY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM
CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE
ALL THE TESTIMONY THAT WE HEARD
THIS MORNING. THAT IS COMPLETELY
ALIGNED WITH WHAT OUR EXPERIENCE
HAS BEEN IN MY OFFICE. THANK YOU
TO ALL THE WORKERS FOR PROVIDING
THAT TESTIMONY AND BECAUSE OF
THOSE CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE, WE
HAVE PRIORITIZED RECOVERING THAT
CONFIDENCE AND EXPANDING OUR
REACH INTO FARMWORKER
COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE
HISTORICALLY NOT HAD CONTACT.
UNFORTUNATELY THE STRUCTURE OF
THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY AS YOU
ALL WELL KNOW, FACILITATES
VIOLATIONS. THE USE OF THE
SUBCONTRACTING MODEL
UNDERCAPITALIZED CONTRACTORS OR
WORKFORCE. AS WE HEARD WHO, UM
IT SPEAKS MANY DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES AGENCIES WHO DON'T
HAVE THOSE LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES
. THESE ARE ALL BARRIERS TO
ENFORCEMENT. WHICH IS WHY IT'S
MORE CRITICAL THAT IN THIS
PARTICULAR INDUSTRY, WE WORK
CLOSELY WITH STAKEHOLDERS. TO
IDENTIFY SYSTEMIC VIOLATIONS AND
OBTAIN WORKER COOPERATION. MY
GOALS HAVE BEEN TO FILL
VACANCIES TO INCREASE FARMWORKER
ACCESS TO THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE RESOURCES
TO INVEST LONG STANDING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND TO TRAIN EMPLOYERS.
I'M GOING TO IDENTIFY A COUPLE
OF HIGHLIGHTS. SO IN HIRING
HIRING CONTINUES TO BE A TOP
PRIORITY FOR US IN 2023. WE
HIRED 100 AND 71 PROFESSIONALS,
WHICH REPRESENTS A 25% INCREASE
FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. NOW
OUTREACH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT,
IF NOT MORE THAN THE ENFORCEMENT
BECAUSE IT'S FOUNDATIONAL TO
ENFORCEMENT. IF WORKERS DO NOT
KNOW THEIR RIGHTS, THEY CANNOT
EXERCISE THEM. SO WE LAUNCHED AN
INTERACTIVE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
REACHING EVERY CALIFORNIA THAT
PRIORITIZES FARM WORKERS IN THE
AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, AND THAT
TAKES US OUT OF OUR OFFICES.
INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
SERVE. WE INITIALLY LAUNCHED
LABOR CARAVANS IN 2020. AS WITH
THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW THAT CLAIMS
WENT DOWN AND WE STARTED TO HEAR
REPORTS OF UNTRUTHS ON OUR
PUBLIC INFORMATION LINES, SO WE
KNEW THAT WE HAD TO GET OUT
THERE. HOWEVER WE REFLECTED AND
UNDERSTOOD THAT EVEN THOUGH
THOSE CARAVANS WERE INNOVATIVE,
UM AND BROUGHT AN INFUSION OF
ATTENTION TO A PARTICULAR
TARGETED AREA. THAT WAS
TEMPORARY, AND WE NEEDED TO
REVIEW AND PROVIDE A MORE
REGULAR ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS
WHERE WE CAME TO DESIGN. UM WHAT
. SORRY I'M FORGETTING YOUR
TITLE. WELL WHAT W T SECRETARY
JUST TESTIFIED TO POP UP OFFICE
MODEL IN AREAS WHERE WE DO NOT
HAVE AN OFFICE AND THEY WERE
ABLE TO PROVIDE IN PERSON
CONTACT. WE INITIALLY STARTED
JUST WITH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. WE NOW
PARTNER WITH CAL OSHA REGULARLY
AND OTHER AGENCIES LIKE L R B
AND E. D. D ARE ALSO
PARTICIPATE. REPEATING AND WE'RE
PRIORITIZING RELEVANT
INFORMATION FOR FARM WORKERS.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
TAKING ACTION. WE ALSO PROVIDE A
CLINIC COMPONENT WHERE THEY
COULD FILE CLAIMS ON THE SPOT OR
REPORT LAWBREAKING EMPLOYERS TO
US. OUR INITIAL PARTNER WAS ME.
MYSTIQUE OH INDIANA COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING PROJECT, AND THEN WE
EXPANDED. UM AS THE DEPUTY
SECRETARY SPOKE, SO I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT WE CONTINUE THESE
AND ASIDE FROM THE AREAS THAT
WERE MENTIONED AND WE ARE NOW
EXPANDING INTO CRUSHERS AND
LINDSEY IN WORKING WITH CBD I
OWE THIS YEAR WE'VE ALSO TRAINED
210 AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS OVER
THE PAST YEAR. WE'VE ALSO
THROUGH OUR WORKPLACE RIGHTS
AMBASSADORS PROJECT ARE WORKING
WITH 12 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
WHO SERVICE FARMWORKER
COMMUNITIES THROUGH THESE
DIFFERENT COLLABORATIONS. WE'VE
RECEIVED MORE THAN 100 AND 20
REFERRALS AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
RESOLVE HALF OF THOSE REFERRALS
AND THE OTHER HALF. WE HAD TWO
REVIEWS FOR REEFER FOR FORMAL
FILING BECAUSE THEY PRESENTED
MORE COMPLEX SITUATIONS THAT WE
NEEDED TO ENGAGE. IN THE FORMAL
PROCESS. WE ALSO HAVE A YOUTH
ADVOCATE PROGRAM AS THE CHAIR IS
WELL AWARE OF WHAT WE PRIORITIZE
REACHING THE CHILDREN OF
FARMWORKERS, WHO OFTEN SERVE AS
INTERPRETERS FOR THEIR PARENTS
TO HELP THEM RESOLVE ISSUES. WE
ALSO HAVE REGULAR RADIO SHOWS ON
RADIO AND BEHENNA, UM, THAT
REACHES 10 TO 15,000 LISTENERS
EVERY DAY AND 2 TO 3000 DAILY ON
THEIR FACEBOOK, AND WE ALSO ARE
REGULARLY ON RADIO BILINGUAL
THAT REACHES MORE THAN 10
AGRICULTURAL AREAS. I KNOW I'M
GOING TO BE OUT OF TIME, BUT I
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THREE AND
FORCE MINT EXAMPLES THAT
DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND HOW
CRITICAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN
AND US ACHIEVING OUR ROLE. WE
HAD A REFERRAL FROM MACHADO
DAIRY, WHERE FARM WORKERS HAD
FILED CAL OSHA COMPLAINTS AND
THEN WITHIN A MONTH OR SO LATER,
THE EMPLOYER PUT ON AN I NINE
NOTICE ON THEIR DOOR WHEN
EMPLOYER WHEN THE WORKERS CAME
BACK TO WORK AND NINE I NOTICED
THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REVIEW
THEIR IMMIGRATION PAPERS. RIGHT
SO THEY ADVOCATES CONTACT MYSELF
AND THE OCEAN CHIEF OVER THE
WEEKEND ON A SATURDAY. I ENGAGED
MY TEAM ON SUNDAY AND WE WERE
COMMUNICATING WITH THAT EMPLOYER
BY MID MORNING THAT MONDAY,
ADVISING THEM THAT THAT IS
POTENTIALLY ILLEGAL IF THEY
CAN'T DEMONSTRATE OTHER
INFORMATION THE EMPLOYER
RETRACTED, PUT DOWN THE NOTICE
AND CONTINUED, SO THAT WAS A
SUCCESSFUL ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ONE WITH
THE MONTEREY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
THIS IS NOT A WAGE THAT CASES IS
ACTUALLY A PREMIUM AND TAX FRAUD
, WORKERS' COMP PREMIUMS AND TAX
FRAUD CASE. BUT WHAT OUR ROLE
THERE WAS THEY WERE
INVESTIGATING THE DEFENDANTS
WERE FARM LABOR CONTRACTORS WHO
HAD A LICENSE WITH OUR AGENCY.
THE SUPERIOR COURT WAS ABLE TO
LEVERAGE THAT LICENSE, WHICH WE
WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REVOKING
BECAUSE OF THE CRIMINAL.
INVESTIGATION. AND THEY WERE
ABLE TO MAINTAIN PUT THOSE
EMPLOYERS ON HOUSE ARREST AND
THEY WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE
1500 FARMWORKERS WORKING WHILE
THE EMPLOYER'S SERVED THEIR TERM
. UM AND RECOVERED, CORRECTED
THE RESTITUTION, SO THAT WAS
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION
THAT WE WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE
LAST ONE I'M GONNA MENTION IS A
FARM LABOR CONTRACTOR MG LUNA IN
FRESNO COUNTY, WHERE WE USE THE
CLIENT EMPLOYMENT LAW TO SITE TO
GROWERS, WHO HAD A CONTRACT WITH
MG LUNA BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO
PAY MINIMUM WAGE AND OTHER
VIOLATIONS. SO THE CLIENT
EMPLOYER TOOL IS NECESSARY TO
ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE
COMPLIANCE THAT WE KNOW WE'RE
ALL GOING AFTER. SO THESE ARE
JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE FRUIT
OF OUR LONG TERM INVESTMENT WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN EACH OF
THESE CASES WERE WORKING WITH
COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING
CRL A. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK
YOU. NEXT WE HAVE DEBORAH LEE,
ACTING CHIEF OF CAL OSHA. YES
GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND
COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND
THANK THE FARMER WHO IS HERE
TODAY FOR THEIR TESTIMONY. CAN
YOU HEAR ME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER?
BETTER OKAY. I WAS STATING THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FARM
WORKERS FOR THEIR TESTIMONIES
HERE TODAY. I WAS VERY MOVED BY
THOSE TESTIMONIES HERE TODAY.
AND VERY CONCERNED. UM I WOULD
ALSO LIKE TO SAY MY NAME IS
DEBORAH LEE AND THE CAL OSHA
DEPUTY CHIEF CURRENTLY AS THE
ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF, I JOINED
THE TEAM OF CARLOS FOR ABOUT 25
YEARS AGO AS AN INDUSTRIAL
HYGIENISTS. I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE
AGAIN THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND, UM
CURRENT THINGS THAT WE ARE
WORKING ON TO PROTECT AND
IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY AND
HEALTH FOR FARM WORKERS, AND I
HAVE A VIDEO HERE TO SHARE WITH
YOU GUYS OR PRESENTATION HERE.
SO YES, NEXT, LIKE OUR ACTION
ITEMS, AS WE MOVE HERE TODAY IS
TO INCREASE OUR PRESENCE IN
AGRICULTURAL AREAS. WE WANT TO
ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL
ENFORCEMENT UNIT. UM, WE WILL WE
LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. WE WOULD
LIKE TO PROVIDE OUTREACH AND
TRAINING TO FARM WORKERS WERE
WORKING HEAVILY ON RECRUITING,
HIRING AND RETAINING A DIVERSE
AND I'M PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. EMPLOYMENT
DATA SHOWS THAT APPROXIMATELY
70% OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT
IS IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY. AND
THEN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THE
HIGHEST AGRICULTURAL AND EXCUSE
ME. EMPLOYMENT IS IN RIVERSIDE
AND IMPERIAL COUNTY. WE ARE
ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL OFFICES
IN FRESNO, SANTA BARBARA AND
RIVERSIDE. WE HAVE HIRED SEVERAL
STAFF FOR THE FRESNO OFFICE AND
THE RIVERSIDE OFFICE. THESE
OFFICES WERE CONTINUING TO HIRE
AND MOVING TOWARDS OPENING.
THESE OFFICES WERE ALSO
RECURRING RECRUITING AND HIRING
STAFF FOR OUR SON OF BARBARA AND
DISTRICT OFFICE, AND THOSE
POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY POSTED.
IF WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. WE REALIZED THE
FARM WORKERS FACE UNIQUE
CHALLENGES AND THEIR PLACES OF
EMPLOYMENT IS TESTIFIED HERE
TODAY AND WE HAVE LAUNCHED AN
INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH AN
AGRICULTURAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
ENFORCEMENT UNIT, THIS UNIT WITH
FOCUS ON CULTURAL WORKERS. WE
WILL SET A GOAL TO RECRUIT AND
HIRE BILINGUAL STAFF, THE UNIT
WOULD HAVE A DESIGNATED MULTI
LINGUAL COMPLAINT HOTLINE,
ALLOWING FARMWORKERS AND
ADVOCACY GROUPS TO REPORT THEIR
CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS TOTALLY
ANONYMOUSLY SO THAT WE CAN
RESPOND TO THOSE TIPS. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. THE STATISTICS
ARE GOALS FOR THIS UNIT WOULD BE
ONE IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY AND
HEALTH FOR ALL AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS AND TO CHANGE THE
WORKPLACE CULTURE TO INCREASE
AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS.
AWARENESS OF COMMITMENT TO AND
INVOLVEMENT IN WORKPLACE SAFETY
AND HEALTH AND THIRD SECURE.
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS CONFIDENCE
AND TRUST THROUGH EXCELLENT IN
THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF
CARLO SHIP PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES. HAVING LIMITED TIME TO
SHARE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. FOR
THE ROLLOUT OF THIS UNIT, I WILL
BE BREATHED, THE UNIT WILL ROLL
OUT IN MULTIPLE PHASES, STARTING
WITH ESTABLISHING THE MULTI
LINGUAL COMPLAINT HOTLINE
STARTING THAT SOMETIME IN THE
SUMMER. SORRY, THE SPRING HERE
NEXT, WE WILL IDENTIFY OFFICE
LOCATIONS, FOLLOWED BY OPENING
OF THE OFFICES. THE GOAL OF THIS
UNIT ALIGNS WITH OUR
AGRICULTURAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
INSPECTION PROJECT THAT WE WILL
BE KICKING OFF THIS YEAR BEFORE
THE HEAT SITS SEE THEM. NEXT
SLIDE, PLEASE. EVERY ENFORCEMENT
DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HAVE A TEAM
DEDICATED TO CONDUCTING
PROACTIVE AGRICULTURAL
INSPECTIONS. THE FOCUS OF THE
INSPECTIONS WILL BE INDOOR HEAT,
OUTDOOR HEAT ACTIVITIES,
NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS, CLEANING
THIS OF DRINKING WATER TOILETS
AND THE HAND WASHING FACILITIES.
WE WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED IN
DOING JOINT HOUSING INSPECTIONS
WITH OUR DEAL. STR LABOR
COMMISSIONER OFFICE AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WE WILL ALSO
BE ENGAGING AND DOING JOINT
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE INSPECTIONS
WITH THE PESTICIDES CONTROL.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SHE HAS
ESTABLISHED, UM REGIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS BUILDING
INITIATIVES WITH UC MERCED LABOR
LAW. I MEAN, I'M SORRY LABOR
CENTER AND WE'VE ALSO DEVELOPED
WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
COALITION FOR OCCUPATIONAL
SAFETY AND HEALTH. WE ARE
DEVELOPING A MULTILINGUAL VIDEO
ON HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH
CAL OSHA. INTO THE NEXT LIFE. WE
HAVE CREATED, TRANSLATED AND
UPDATED MULTIPLE SAFETY
PROVOCATIONS. RESOURCES FOR
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, SUCH AS
INFORMATION ON WORKERS' RIGHTS
COVERED 19 PREVENTION FOR
WORKERS HOW TO FIND YOUR EXACT
COORDINATES USING IPHONES AND A
LOT OF THESE IDEAS CAME OUT OF
OUR COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY
BASED ORGANIZATIONS. NEXT SLIDE,
PLEASE. HERRING IS ONE OF OUR
TOP PRIORITIES AND CARL OSHA AND
WE CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY REACH.
I'M SORRY, RECRUIT AND HIRE
QUALIFIED TEAM MEMBERS THERE SHE
THIS WILL INCLUDE HIRING FOR THE
AGRICULTURAL UNIT THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER IN DEVELOPING
WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS A
STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN.
UM IT'S PINK TALK ABOUT A LITTLE
BIT LATER AND MORE DETAIL WERE
USING RADIO NEWSPAPER BULLETIN
BOARDS, SOCIAL MEDIA OR
NETWORKING WITH COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS WITH
PROFESSIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
ORGANIZATIONS. CARLOS YOUR
SHARES, ITS ENFORCEMENT
RECRUITMENT AND HIRING STAFFING
NUMBERS ON ITS WEBSITE. AND AS
OF THE 31ST OF 2023. CAL OSHA
HAS 185 FILLED INSPECTORS
LOCATED THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
SINCE 2020 TO A TOTAL OF 71
ENFORCEMENT APPOINTMENTS HAVE
BEEN MADE. WHICH INCLUDE HIRING
AND PROMOTING AND TRANSFERRING
AND ALSO HIRING, RETIRED IN NEW
ATTEMPTS AND THE COMING MONTHS
WE ARE LAUNCHING OUR ENFORCEMENT
STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN,
INCLUDING PROVIDING ASSISTANCE
TO PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES OR
APPLICANTS ON HOW TO NAVIGATE
THE STATE HARROWING PROCESS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OKAY? I WANT
TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST THANKS FOR
INVITING ME HERE TODAY, ALL OF
OUR EFFORTS HERE, BE IT ROOM
MAKING AND FORCE MINT COMPLIANCE
, ASSISTANCE OR TRAINING ARE NOT
DONE HIS I'M SORRY OR NOT, AND
IN TOWARDS INTO THEMSELVES.
THERE ARE TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH
OUR MISSION. OUR MISSION. IS
WORKER SAFETY AND HEALTH. THIS
IS A MISSION CALLOW SHE SHARES
WITH EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE,
WORKERS' LIVES AND LIVELIHOOD
DEPENDS ON OUR ABILITY TO
JOINTLY PREVENT INJURY AND
ILLNESS AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU, AND I WOULD LIKE TO
LEAVE YOU WITH SOME OF OUR
RESOURCES HERE AND ALSO OUR
PHONE NUMBER. OUR HOTLINE. THIS
NUMBER HERE WILL DIRECT YOU TO
OUR CALL CENTER. IT'S AVAILABLE
FOR ADVOCATE GROUPS AND, UM,
FARMWORKERS. WE UNDERSTAND THE
LIMITATION OF THIS CALL CENTER.
WE DO HAVE BILINGUAL PEOPLE
AVAILABLE. AND, UM, ALSO, UM WE
WILL LIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO ALSO BE
AWARE OF OUR JOB. UM WEBSITE
LOCATION AND WE ASKED FOR THEM
JOIN, AND I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS
AT THE END. LITTLE NERVOUS.
THANK YOU. DON'T BE NERVOUS. Ó.
SENATOR CORTEZ E. DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS? DO UM ONE OF THEM
? UM HE HAS, UM, FOR THE
COMMISSIONER IN AND BY THE WAY,
THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, FOR
PRESENTING HERE AGAIN TODAY WE
HEARD YOU IN JOINT LEGISLATIVE
AUDIT COMMITTEE. UM LAST YEAR,
AND ALSO I APPRECIATE YOUR
EFFORTS TO UM TO MEET IN MY
OFFICE TO GO OVER SOME OF THESE
ISSUES AND OTHERS WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY KNOW THAT YOU'RE
MAKING ALL THOSE EFFORTS. I KNOW
YOU MENTIONED THE HIRES. YOU
KNOW, ADDED ON THE NEW HIRES, UM
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO
JUST MAKE IT CLEAR THIS ISN'T A
TRAP QUESTION IN ANY WAY, BUT I
WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC AND
WITH LEGISLATORS IN TERMS OF THE
NET. PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE FACING
OR AT LEAST HAVE BEEN FACING. I
KNOW IN SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE FIVE
IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE GOING
BACK COUPLE OF YEARS WE'VE HAD
THIS DEFICIT. WHERE AS FAST AS
YOU CAN HIRE, YOU'RE HAVING
NUTRITION. UM AND HAVING A
TROUBLE REALLY? UM INCREASING
THE OCCUPIED POSITIONS VERSUS
THE VACANT POSITIONS. CAN YOU
SPEAK TO THAT AND I'M REALLY
JUST TRYING TO GET THAT OUT. ON
THE RECORD. IT'S NOT I DON'T
WANT YOU TO FEEL DEFENSIVE ABOUT
IT. BUT IF THAT'S HAPPENING, I
THINK WE ALL NEED TO KNOW. UM AS
THE PEOPLE WITH THE PURSE
STRINGS AND THE RESOURCES HERE
THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO HELP
SOMEHOW WITH THAT YES. THANK YOU
SO MUCH, SENATOR AND REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO
SUPPORT US OVER THE YEARS SO OF
THOSE 171 HIRES 93 OF THEM WERE
INTERNAL CANDIDATES. UM, SO
THAT'S THE TENSION THAT WE HAVE
RIGHT. SO FOR 2023 WE HAVE ABOUT
A 53% HIGHER ON INTERNAL
CANDIDATES VERSUS EXTERNAL
CANDIDATES. UM WE ARE OUR
NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED IN TERMS
OF THE SEPARATIONS THAT WERE
SEEN AND AS I SHARED WITH YOU,
WE ARE INVESTING MORE IN
RETENTION STRATEGIES ARE
ACTUALLY A LOT OF OUR
PROFESSIONALS ENJOY BEING OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY, THEY ENJOY
DESIGNING PROGRAM. TO REACH
INDIVIDUALS. AND SO THE MORE
OPPORTUNITY WE CREATE FOR CREATE
FOR THEM TO TAKE A BREAK FROM
THAT LOAD OF CASES THAT IS ALSO
A RETENTION STRATEGY. AND AS I
HAD PREVIOUSLY SHARED WITH YOU,
WE ALSO HAVE A PIPELINE STRATEGY
WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA. THAT WE HAVE WITH
UCL, A SIMILAR TO WHAT CHIEF LEE
MENTIONED OF TRYING TO CREATE
THAT CONSTANT RECRUITMENT AND
DEMYSTIFYING THE STATE HIRING
PROCESS. BUT I'D LIKE TO DEFER
TO DEANNA PING, WHO WAS GOING TO
SHARE SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT
GENERAL HIRING EFFORTS. THANKS
LARRY KUSHNER. GARCIA BROWER.
GOOD I THINK IT'S AFTERNOON NOW.
GOOD. ALMOST AFTERNOON. DEANNA
PING I'M THE CHIEF DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
INDUSTRIAL ATIONS. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR QUESTION, SENATOR CORTESI,
AS YOU KNOW, HIRING THE TOP
PRIORITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT,
ESPECIALLY FOR OUR DIVISIONS. AS
YOU MAY RECALL, WE ACTUALLY LOST
OUR HIRING DELEGATION IN IN 2019
, AND IT TOOK US SEVERAL YEARS
TO GET THAT BACK. AND WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE STUDY PROGRESS,
ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE LAST SIX
MONTHS. SO UH, I CAN SAY THAT
THE DEPARTMENT HAS A WHOLE
THOUGHT OF 2% REDUCTION IN THE
LAST SIX MONTHS IN OUR VACANCY
RATE, WHICH IS PRETTY
SIGNIFICANT AND ALSO THAT WE SAW
BEFORE PRODUCT 4% REDUCTION FOR
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
AND CAL OSHA. WE SAW 3%
REDUCTION AND THOSE MIGHT SOUND
LIKE SMALL NUMBERS. BUT GIVEN
THAT, LIKE LABOR COMMISSIONER
GARCIA BROWER MENTIONED HAVING
INTERNAL HIRES IS REALLY
IMPORTANT FROM A RECRUITMENT
STANDPOINT AND RETENTION, SO WE
LIKE TO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, BUT
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO BACK
FILL THAT VACANCY. WE ALSO HAVE
RETIREMENTS AND ALSO WE'VE BEEN
VERY FORTUNATE WHERE WE'VE
RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF NEW
POSITIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE,
ALL OF WHICH AFFECT THE VACANCY
RATE. UH SO I DO WANT TO JUST
NOTE AS A POINT OF COMPARISON.
IN IN 20 TWENTIES. THIS IS WHEN
WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR HIRING
DELEGATION D I. R AS A
DEPARTMENT MADE 252 APPOINTMENTS
AS AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR CAL,
OSHA AND L. C O JUST WITHIN THE
LAST SIX MONTHS, THEY'VE MADE
ALMOST 200 AS A DEPARTMENT AS A
WHOLE IN SIX MONTHS. WE'VE MADE
416 IT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE STILL
NEED TO DO MORE, BUT I'M HOPING
THAT THAT CAN HELP ILLUMINATE
THAT WE ARE MAKING STUDY
PROGRESS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE
DIFFERENT STRATEGIES IN PLACE AS
WELL. WE'RE BOTH CAL OSHA AND
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
HAVE ADDED SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES
INTERNALLY TO HELP SCALE UP
THEIR HIRING, WHICH WE'VE ALSO
DONE WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES
TEAM, AND SO WE EXPECT TO
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THIS.
PROGRESS AND SEE BIGGER DOUBLE
DIGIT NUMBER, SO THANK YOU CAN
COMMENT THROUGH THE CHAIR? UM
APPRECIATE HEARING ALL THOSE
NUMBERS, AND I THINK THE
DIFFERENCE IS AND I DO THINK 2%
IS LOW AND ANYBODY WHO HEARS
THAT'S GOING TO THINK THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH. I THINK MOST OF US
APPEAR PROBABLY FEEL IT'S NOT
ENOUGH. WE'RE NOT RAPID ENOUGH.
BUT IF THERE'S A MESSAGE THERE.
IT SAID ITS NET PLUS BECAUSE IT
WAS NOT GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
WE HAD AN ONGOING DEFICIT
GROWING DEFICIT EMPLOYMENT. I
APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONER
POINTING OUT, YOU KNOW, CANDIDLY
THAT SOME OF THOSE HIRES ARE
INTERNAL, WHICH MEANS IT'S
GREAT. WE'RE WE HAVE A BENCH
WHERE GROWING EMPLOYMENT WITHIN,
WE'RE REWARDING PEOPLE FOR DOING
A GOOD JOB. BUT BUT IT DOESN'T
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T GET US TO,
UM YOU KNOW THE OVERALL NUMBERS
THAT THAT WE WANT APPRECIATE YOU
BEING HERE AND TESTED, TESTIFIED
BEFORE MY COMMITTEE AS WELL AND
UM I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION
THROUGH THE CHAIR ON THE OCEAN
SIDE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT UM
NOT SELF SERVING, BUT PAROCHIAL
Tð. BILL THAT WE FOUGHT HARD TO
GET APPROVED LAST YEAR ON WORK
ON WORKPLACE VIOLENCE. SENATE
BILL 553, WHICH WAS SIGNED INTO
LAW, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MISS
LEE, THAT'S THAT'S FINE. NO
PRESSURE HERE. I WAS JUST I
DIDN'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT
PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT THERE, AND
WE'RE FEELING THAT YOU KNOW THAT
BILL REQUIRED AND ADDENDUM. UM
YOU KNOW TO OSHA DOCUMENTATION
IN THE WORKPLACE THAT I'M SIMPLY
, YOU KNOW, REQUIRES EMPLOYERS
TO INDICATE WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE
FOR ADDRESSING WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE, AND I'M HOPING THAT IS
PART OF THE PROACTIVE KIND OF
AFFIRMATIVE WORK. THAT'S GOING
OUT THAT IN THIS SPACE AND IN UM
IN AGRICULTURE, YOU KNOW, AND
INFORMED LABOR THAT THAT'S SEEN
AS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS AN
INDUSTRIAL LOCATIONS OR IN
RETAIL WHERE WHICH GETS A LOT OF
ATTENTION. BUT THE FACT OF
MATTER IS ONE OF THE WORST
TRAGEDIES WE SAW IN THE BAY AREA
NEAR MY DISTRICT IN SAN MATEO.
NEXT DOOR TO SANTA CORK COUNTY,
OF COURSE, WAS IN HALF MOON BAY
IN AND WE'VE SEEN ANOTHER
SITUATION LIKE THAT RECENTLY. SO
WE KNOW THERE'S THIS TENSION
THAT THAT OPPRESSION. UM. AND
THINGS LIKE WAGE THEFT AND
PEOPLE WITHHOLDING CHECKS FROM
FOLKS WHEN THEY DON'T FEEL THAT
THAT'S RIGHTEOUS CAN READ. EVEN
TO COWORKER OF VIOLENCE. SO
WE'RE HOPING THAT THAT BECOMES
PART OF THE UM, YOU KNOW, THE
PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT? UM THANK
YOU FOR THAT, UM, IN REGARDS TO
WHEN I MENTIONED THE
AGRICULTURAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
PROJECT INSPECTION AND ALSO THE
UNIT, THE AREAS THAT WE WILL BE
FOCUSED ON AND ON AS WELL WILL
BE VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
WITH THE NEW STANDARD, AND SO AS
WE TRAIN OUR STAFF AND ROLLING
OUT, UM, WE'RE ASKING THEM TO
LOOK AT ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS
LIKE COVID 19 VIOLENCE IN THE
WORKPLACE AS WELL AS LOOKING GET
INDOOR HEAT ISSUES, AND SO WE'RE
LOOKING AT A HOLISTIC APPROACH.
WHEN WE GO OUT AND DO THESE
INSPECTIONS, IT MAY NOT BE HOT
AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE ROLLING
OUT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO, UM,
EVALUATE THE EMPLOYERS PROGRAMS
TO SEE THAT THEY ARE BEING
PROACTIVE AND PUTTING FORTH
THEIR TRAINING BEFORE THESE
THINGS HAPPEN. THANK YOU. AND WE
HAVE A HEAT BILL COMING THIS
YEAR, SO YES, THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIR. I APOLOGIZE. I CAME IN
LATE BECAUSE, AS USUAL IN THE
LEGISLATURE, WE HAVE TWO
COMMITTEES GOING AT THE SAME
TIME, AND I'M ON THE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE. AND I
HAVE TO. I HAVE TO LEAVE NOW FOR
A CAUCUS MEETING. BUT I HAVE
APPRECIATED VERY MUCH TO
DISCUSSION AND APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP IN PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER, ORTEGA THANK YOU,
MADAM CHAIR. IF I MAY JUST ADD
TO MR CURTIS'S QUESTION, EVEN
THOUGH IT'S NOT A NEW LAW, BUT
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SEXUAL
VIOLENCE IN IN AGRICULTURAL
INDUSTRY AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS
ESTABLISHED MANDATES, UM, TO
ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS THAT AND SO
IN OUR REGULAR INCREASE
ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY
LEADERS, AND IN THESE WORKSHOPS,
WE ALSO INCLUDE THE SEXUAL
VIOLENCE STANDARD, THE SEXUAL,
UM, ASSAULT PREVENTION TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS. ALSO LACTATION
ACCOMMODATIONS, THE VIOLENCE
AGAINST VICTIMS, UM, PROTECTIONS
THAT ARE FOUND IN THE LABOR CODE
. UM SO WE'RE BRINGING THAT
INFORMATION TO FARM WORKERS AS
WELL. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE
THAT. I MEAN, ONE OF THE
CONCERNS AND MAIN REASONS I
WANTED TO HOST TODAY'S HEARING
IS BECAUSE WE DO PASS A LOT OF
LIES HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE,
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE BEING ENFORCED AND THAT
THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY. UM AND I
APPRECIATE I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
ACTING CHIEFLY. UM, I APPRECIATE
YOUR PRESENTATION ABOUT
EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO
BE DOING OR IN THE PROCESS OF
DOING, BUT IN TODAY'S TESTIMONY,
I REPEATEDLY HEARD WITNESSES
SPEAK ABOUT NOTIFYING EMPLOYERS
WHEN AN INSPECTION IS GOING TO
OCCUR. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT? AND YOU KNOW, I'M
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THANK
YOU. SO AM I. UM I WOULD LIKE TO
START FIRST BY SAYING THAT ANY
PERSON WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION,
UH, THAT IS PROVIDING ANY TYPE
OF INFORMATION ABOUT IN
INSPECTION, WHICH WE REFER TO
THAT LATEST EVENTS NOTICE WILL
BE SUBJECTED TO VIOLATIONS OF
THE LABOR CODE, AND THOSE
VIOLATIONS ARE VERY SWIFT. THEY
UNTIL IMPRISONMENT AND, UM,
CIVIL FINES. UM OUR PROCEDURES
HAVE BEEN OUTLINING, AND STAFF
HAS BEEN TRAINED. WE CANNOT GIVE
EVENTS NOTICE TO ANY EMPLOYER.
AND SO IF THIS IS HAPPENING,
THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO
KNOW. WE NEED TO KNOW AND WE
WILL TAKE ACTION. BUT INSPECTORS
HAVE BEEN TRAINED NOT TO GIVE
ADVANCED NOTICE. THAT IS WHAT
IT'S CALLED. THERE ARE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE WE MAY HAVE
TO GIVE EVENTS NOTICE. IT'S SUCH
AS A PRISON. WE CAN'T JUST WALK
IN TO A PRISON AND BUT ONCE
AGAIN THERE WE WOULD. THERE'S A
PROTOCOL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO
FOLLOW AND GO THROUGH. SO I'M
VERY CONCERNED AND HEARING UM
WHAT IS OCCURRING AND WE WOULD
WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT TO TAKE
APPROPRIATE ACTION. IS THIS
SOMETHING WE CAN? UM I'M LOOKING
AT MY STAFF. I MENTIONED I
WANTED TO DO AN AUDIT. UH YOUR
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S
PROTOCOLS IN PLACE. UM I'VE
HEARD OVER AND OVER TODAY OF
INSTANCES, SO I JUST WANT TO
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE DATA THE
INFORMATION, UM SO THAT WE CAN
ACT ACCORDINGLY. UM, ANOTHER
QUESTION I HAD FOR YOU IS
AROUND, UM STAFFING. YOU KNOW, I
MENTIONED YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
THESE VIOLATIONS HAVE OCCURRED
WHEN WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY.
AND SO WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT
UM. YOUR CURRENT STAFFING HOW
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, AND
, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE
ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED TODAY
ARE A LANGUAGES, ETCETERA AND
ACCESS. SO FOR STAFFING OUT
STARTING THEN I'LL REFER OVER TO
DEANNA PEEING TO TALK ABOUT SOME
OF OUR STRATEGY BECAUSE IT
OVERLAPS WITH DLC AS WELL. I
MEAN, I'M SORRY, D I R AS WELL
AND JEALOUSY. SO AS I SAY THAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE 100 AND 85
FILLED STAFF THAT ARE OUT IN THE
FIELD. WE ARE ALSO OUR STRATEGY
WAS TO BUILD OUR MANAGEMENT
FORCE. STARTING FIRST BECAUSE WE
NEED MANAGERS IN ORDER TO YOU
KNOW, MANAGE THE OFFICES. AND SO
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR REGIONAL
STAFF, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF EIGHT
REGIONAL POSITIONS. UH WE ONLY
HAVE TWO VACANCIES OUT. WE'VE
BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND HIRING THOSE
POSITIONS AND GETTING THEM UP
AND RUNNING. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR
DISTRICT MANAGERS, THESE ARE THE
FRONT LINE OF FIRST LINE
MANAGERS THAT ARE ALSO ATTENDING
SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY BASED
ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN
START TO NETWORK. WE ARE UM 27,
AND, UM, WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES
THERE, AND THOSE ARE NOW POST
IT. I THINK THAT'S APPROXIMATELY
THREE. AND THEN FROM THERE, OUR
STRATEGY IS TO MOVE TOWARD
WORKING ON OUR, UM AND OUR FIELD
STAFF. AND SO I'M GOING TO PIVOT
OVER HERE TO DEANNA THIS TIME.
SURE. UH, THANK YOU. CHAIR
ORTEGA SO SOMETHING THAT ACTING
CHIEFLY MENTIONED WAS THE
STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN
THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND
LAUNCHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF
WEEKS. AND SO THAT'S TO HELP IN
PART. WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY IS
BRING GREATER AWARENESS ABOUT
THESE POSITIONS TO PEOPLE WHO
MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THEY WOULD
BE GOOD CANDIDATES FOR THEM. SO
THAT'S GOING TO BE STATEWIDE.
IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE, UH SOCIAL
MEDIA. IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE OUT
OF HOME, WHICH IS SORT OF WHEN
YOU SEE DIFFERENT POSTINGS AT
BUS STOPS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT OUT OF HOME IS AS
WELL AS, UH, DIFFERENT FOR BOTH
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
AS WELL AS CAL OSHA FOR
ENFORCEMENT POSITIONS BECAUSE
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A NEED TO
SCALE UP. NOW THAT WE'RE SEEING
WHAT SENATOR CORTEZ MENTIONED,
WE'RE SEEING NET GAIN. NOW WE
NEED TO SCALE IT. AND SO THAT'S
WHAT THE RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN IS
PARTIALLY TO HELP WITH, AND ALSO
LIKE I MENTIONED AS WELL, BOTH
THE LABOR COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
AND CAL OSHA ARE INVESTING
HEAVILY IN THEIR OWN DIVISION,
HIRING INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP
MOVE THESE HIRING PACKAGES AND
MAKE THESE HIRES. UH AND I ALSO
WANT TO NOTE THAT WE FOUND IN
PART DUE TO THE PARTNERSHIPS
WE'VE HAD WITH OUR COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE HEARD IS TO
HELP SUPPORT CANDIDATES NAVIGATE
THE STATE HIRING PROCESS. AND SO
IN ADDITION TO JUST RAISING
AWARENESS ABOUT THESE JOBS, IT'S
ALSO HOW CAN SOMEONE APPLY FOR A
STATE JOB? AND SO WE'RE WE'RE
COUPLING THAT WITH DIFFERENT, UH
, WORKSHOPS OR CONVENING SO THAT
WE CAN HELP PEOPLE ACTUALLY BE
ABLE TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS AS
WELL TO HOPEFULLY GIVE US A
CANDIDATE POOL AND INSPECTORS
WHO WHO REPRESENT THE DIVERSITY
OF THE STATE THAT WE'RE
ENFORCING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
UM, ANOTHER THING I HEARD ONE OF
FROM ONE OF THE TESTIMONIES WITH
THE USE OF PESTICIDES. UM OUR
EMPLOYERS ARE OBLIGATED TO TRAIN
THEIR WORKERS OR ON THE RISK OF
PESTICIDES AND IF THEY FAIL TO
DO SO, WHAT ARE THE
CONSEQUENCES? THE ONE THAT WOULD
BE THE PESTICIDES CONTROL THAT
FOR CAL OSHA WHEN WE GO OUT, WE
DO LOOK AT HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS
AND, UM, IN THAT PROCESS IN
LOOKING AT THE HAZARDOUS
CHEMICALS, WE HAVE SOMETHING
UNKNOWN AS THE HAZARD
COMMUNICATION, AND SO WE WOULD
LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT AREAS
IN COMMUNICATING TO THE EMPLOYER
THAT YOU COULD. YOU'RE IN
VIOLATION OF OUR HAS COME. UM,
BUT ALSO WE WOULD DO A REFERRAL
OVER TO THE PESTICIDE CONTROLS
SO OUR OUR TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO
TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND DO
THAT. REFERRALS WERE PESTICIDE
CONTROLS CAN COME OUT AND
ENFORCE. SO WHEN THERE IS A
VIOLATION WE CALL ANOTHER AGENCY
. NO I'M SAYING IS THAT THERE
ARE CERTAIN WHEN IT'S PESTICIDE
IS CONTROLLED BY THE PESTICIDE
AGENCY. WHAT WE CAN DO IS LOOK
AT THOSE THAT ARE UNDER OUR
JURISDICTION, WHICH IS THE
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. BUT IF
IT'S PESTICIDE, IT GOES OVER TO
THE PEPCID CONTROL UNIT. WHAT WE
WOULD DO IS, UM AT THAT MOMENT
IN TIME, DO A CALL OR REFERRAL
OVER TO THAT AGENCY TO GET OUT
THERE. IN THE MEANTIME, WE WOULD
USE WHAT TOOLS WE HAVE IN ORDER
TO STOP. OR TO ISSUE THE
CITATION AND INFORMED THE
EMPLOYER THAT THIS IS A
VIOLATION AND YOU MUST SEE SO
WHAT ARE THE OKAY? SO WHAT ARE
THE TOOLS AND WHAT ARE THE
CONSEQUENCES? THE CONSEQUENCES
WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD DECIDED
AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO STOP THAT
THAT PRACTICE AND WHAT THEY'RE
DOING, WE WOULD MOVE TOWARDS TO
STOP THAT PRACTICE AND FAILURE
TO DO SO. WE WILL PROBABLY
COLLABORATE. WHAT ARE OUR LEGAL
TEAM TO SEE WHAT OTHER ACTIONS
CAN WE TAKE UNTIL THE PESTICIDE
CONTROL UNIT CAN GET OUT THERE
AND DO THEIR AND ENFORCE THEIR,
UM THEIR REGULATIONS. WE HAVE
TOOLS THAT ARE DISPOSAL, SUCH AS
ORDER TO PAY PER USE OR TO STOP
OPERATION. WE WOULD COLLABORATE
WITH OUR LEGAL TEAM, UH, TO SEE
IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
COULD ENFORCE UNDER OUR
JURISDICTION OR NOT. IF IT WOULD
BE PESTICIDE. WE WOULD CONTACT
THEM TO GET THEM OUT THERE SINCE
POSSIBLE THAT GOT IT. LAST
QUESTION, AND THIS GOES FOR ANY
OTHER PANEL IS HERE TODAY. UM WE
HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE FEAR
RETALIATION. UM SO WHAT ARE WAYS
THAT THE STATE CAN HELP THEM
FEEL BETTER PROTECTED SO THAT
THEY CAN'T COME FORWARD AND I DO
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE THAT
ARE HERE TODAY. IT'S NOT AN EASY
THING TO COME TO SACRAMENTO TO
SPEAK TO SHARE YOUR STORY AND IN
THE BACK OF YOUR MIND, KNOW THAT
THERE MIGHT BE RETALIATION. SO
WHAT ARE THE STEPS WE CAN TAKE?
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR
THAT IS WITHIN MY JURISDICTION.
UM, SO I'LL BE THE FIRST TO
RESPOND. THERE'S TWO MAIN
COMPONENTS WITH RETALIATION. ONE
HAS TO DO WITH EDUCATING THE
WORKFORCE ABOUT WHAT THE LAW
REQUIRES. THERE IS A LOT OF, UM
MYTHS ABOUT RETALIATION.
PROBABLY OVER 90% OF CLAIMS THAT
WE RECEIVE ARE NOT, UM FINAL OR
NOT ENTERED AS FORMAL CASES
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
JURISDICTION OR THE WORKER HAS
NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROTECTED
ACTIVITY. AND SO THAT'S WHY
WE'VE INVESTED DEEPLY IN
EDUCATING THE WORKFORCE ABOUT
WHAT'S REQUIRED. I JUST DID A
TRAINING LAST NIGHT IN SANTA
MARIA ON RETALIATION. RIGHT AND
SO THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC THINGS
THAT THE WORKERS HAVE TO DO TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES TO BE ABLE TO
DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST
RETALIATION. SO I THINK THAT IS
THE BIGGEST PIECE. THE SECOND
PIECES WAS CAPTURED IN THE
EXAMPLE OF MACHADO DAIRY CASE,
RIGHT IS FOR US GETTING THAT
INFORMATION QUICKLY. SO THAT WE
COULD STOP THE RETALIATION.
WORKERS DON'T WANT TO STAND IN A
LONG LINE FOR A LEGAL DISPUTE,
AND WE WANT TO GET TO IT SOONER.
WE'VE ENGAGED IN EARLY
ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR
OPERATIONS WHEN THE INFORMATION
IS PRESENTED TO US, SO WE'VE
BEEN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS AND EXPLAINING WHAT
THAT IS, AND I THINK OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH UC MERCED, WHO
WAS ABLE TO BRING US FORWARD
THAT CASE AND WE ACTED QUICKLY
TO STOP IT. THAT'S THE THIRD
PIECE OF REGAINING TRUST AND
COMMUNICATING THAT WITH THE
WORKFORCE. YOU DON'T MIND? I'D
JUST LIKE TO ADD, UM THE U. C.
MERCED REPORT ON FARM WORKER
HEALTH NOTED THAT THE PRIMARY
ISN'T THAT FARM WORKERS DON'T
MOVE FORWARD IS DO DO HERE.
RETALIATION BASED ON THEIR
IMMIGRATION STATUS, UM AS YOU
MAY RECALL, THE GOVERNOR
ANNOUNCED FARMWORKER IMMIGRATION
LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM THAT
WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING
CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT
OF SOCIAL SERVICES. UM, WE'VE
HIRED LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE'VE DEVELOPED STRUCTURES TO
REFER CASES DIRECTLY TO THOSE
IMMIGRATION, LEGAL SERVICE
PROVIDERS. WHEN FARM WORKERS LET
US KNOW THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION ISSUES.
UM, AND ARE DEVELOPING OUTREACH
ASSETS RIGHT NOW TO START
PROPERLY, UH, SHARING
INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM,
SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT FARM WORKERS
NEED TO NOT FEEL THAT FEAR OF
RETALIATION. ALSO LIKE TO NOTE
THAT THE RURAL STRATEGIC
ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM HAS FUNDING
FOR LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AS
WELL. THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE
PRESIDENT THE CLINICS TO ASSIST
THEM IN MITIGATING SOME OF THE
CONCERNS THAT FARM WORKERS HAVE.
AT THE VERY LEAST, IT CAN BE
ACCOMPANIED BY BY SOMEONE THAT
CAN REPRESENT THEM THROUGH THE
PROCESS. AND WITH CARLOS
STEPHANIE. SO WHEN WE DO OUR
INSPECTIONS, AND WE OPEN, WE
INFORMED THE EMPLOYER SOON AS WE
OPENED, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO
TAKE ANY ACTION OR ANY
RETALIATION AGAINST ANY EMPLOYEE
. AS WE DO THIS INVESTIGATION.
WE THEN ALSO INFORM EMPLOYEES
THAT IF YOU FEAR THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN RETALIATED IN ANY SHAPE OR
FORM, AND THAT COULD BE BY
REDUCING YOUR WORK HOURS OR NOT
CALLING YOU BACK TO WORK TO
PLEASE NOTIFY US AND FROM THERE
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LSC TO
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. WE GET
OUR LEGAL UNIT INVOLVED AS WELL.
THANK YOU. SO THAT CONCLUDES
THEIR PANELS. AH THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. I
WILL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. WE WILL GIVE EACH
PERSON UP TO ONE MINUTE. AH AND
ONE MINUTE ADDITIONAL
TRANSLATION IS NEEDED. SO YOU
CAN COME UP TO THEIR
MICROPHONES. OK THE SERGEANT'S
GONNA DO ROLL BY ROLE IF ANYONE
WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FOR PUBLIC
COMMENT.
NO. YOU CAN TELL THEM WE'RE
START.
NO PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE IS
OKAY.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND
AGAIN. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. OKAY
MEAN MEAN HOMBRES FEED. ALINA
HAS BEEN OSA MISTAKE. UH PEOPLE
IN LA CIUDAD MADERA, CALIFORNIA.
CAMPO CHADO, THE NAME OF
EXPERIENCE. FORCE IMPORT Kò,
MOSTLY ADIA. FOLLOWS CAMPO PACE.
GRACIAS. MY NAME IS CATALINA
SPINOZA AND I SPEAK MISTAKE. OH,
SHE DID GRANTED SOME WEIRD AND
MYSTICAL AND SHE LIVES IN THE
CITY OF MADERA, CALIFORNIA AND
ON BEHALF OF ALL OF HER
COLLEAGUES TO WORK IN THE
FIELDS. THEY WANT TO APPRECIATE
THAT YOU WERE LISTENING AND THAT
WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU CAN
ADVOCATE SO THAT LAWS BECOME
BETTER BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF
ABUSE IN LABOR LAW. WE SEE IT
DAY BY DAY WITH THE SITUATIONS.
WITH OUR FARMER, UM, COMMUNITY
THAT ARE THE ONES WHO FEED ALL
OF THIS NATION. HMM WHEN I
STARTED THIS AWARD, PERAMA
CONDITIONAL BENGUELA AVELAR
SOVEREIGN EXPERIENCE. THURMOND
ALOSHA ESPANOL PARA PODER
CARILLO, A CAMPAÑA IN AUSTRALIA
THAT COST A CENTRAL MUST BE IN
AND VENTURA ALLAH MIXTEC OSA
PORTICOS OTRAS HAMAS TAMBIÉN
INDUSTRY IN VAN NUYS. I OWN
INSPECTOR TO SIENTO CAMPO IN
DISTRITO. THE BABY ODDO'S
COUNTRIES. CANNOT BE OF STATES
PECTORIS INTENCIÓN, AMAZON
DIRECTORATE, DISTRITO AND
MENTORING TO IN CAMARILLO. ARE
YOU NOT COMPANY? KATAYAMA ARCTIC
COASTAL PUBLIC ADDRESS? YES.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JORGE
ORTIZ. I AM A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER WITH, UH, THE PROGRAM
FRIEND INDIANA AND I'M HERE TO
TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE
SUBMITTING COMPLAINTS TO CAL
OSHA THAT OFTEN TIMES I HAVE TO
WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO SPEAK
SPANISH TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A
COMPLAINT AND 82% OF THE PEOPLE
IN THE AREA OF VENTURA SPEAK
MISTAKEN SUPPORT ANOTHER, UM,
LANGUAGES IN MY DISTRICT IN VAN
NUYS. THERE'S ALSO ONE
INSPECTOR. FOR UM, FOR EVERY
101,000 PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT IN
2020. THERE WAS A 22% OF
VACANCY. WHERE THERE WEREN'T ANY
INSPECTORS, SO WE DO NOT EVEN
HAVE HAVE A DIRECTOR IN OUR
DISTRICT IN 2020 COME IN
CAMARILLO. THERE'S A COMPANY
THAT. THREE H COASTAL AND. CLOSE
21,002, ALICIA. THANK YOU. HOLA
WHEN I STARTED, I DON'T KNOW THE
STATUS OF FAILURE. FLORES. MR
QUINN, DINA TO ME. YES CAMPUS
FROM MENTAL PARALLEL. IN ROBOT
IS WELL OVER THERE. IS THE
COMMON AND IMMIGRANT, LOST, LOST
, SIMPLY ADORES. SAURUS
INFIRMARY, DODD, OKAY,
PREVENTIVA, STILL GAMBIA
IMPORTANT SALARY TO DORIS EXTRAS
DISPOSAL AS QUARANTA AURAS.
CARLOS SALVADOR SO, DOMINGOS
PAROLES PAGAN IS GETTING IN THE
STATE AND EFFECTIVE BUT A VERY
LOW CASES, THE ALLOSAURUS EXTRAS
AND THEY LOOK AT HIM AS THE K,
UH, THAT IS THE JACK AND MASALA.
GRACIAS. GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON
. MY NAME IS OPHELIA, TORRES
TORRES AND I AM WITH PROJECT Ó.
UH AND MY FUNCTION IS TO HELP
EMPOWER OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES AND TO HELP OUR FARM
WORKERS SO THAT THEY CAN
ORGANIZE BECAUSE THEY GO THROUGH
A LOT OF WAGE THEFT. WAGE THEFT
IS VERY COMMON IN THE INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITY, UM, IN THE IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITY BECAUSE MANY EMPLOYERS
DON'T WANT TO PAY SICK PAY, THEY
OFTEN ASKED FOR PROOF OF
SICKNESS. AND THIS IS ALSO
SOMETHING THAT IS A BARRIER AND
WHEN IT COMES TO OVERTIME AFTER
THE 40 HOURS MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY, THEY HAVE US WORK
SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, BUT THEY
PAY US THEY PAY THEM CASH. TO
TRY TO AVOID WHAT ARE OVERTIME
HOURS. SO THIS IS WHAT WE WANT
IS THAT AGENCIES. LISTEN TO
COMMUNITY MORE THAT THERE IS
THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO MY COMMENT. WHEN I
STARTED MARTINEZ WITH THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA BAR METHOD
JUSTICE NETWORK. I JUST WANT TO
SUPPORT THE IDEA OF THE
NAVIGATOR OR CALL IT WHATEVER
YOU WANT, BUT WE NEED SOMEONE
THAT LOOKS LIKE THE FARM WORKERS
WHO KNOWS THE NEEDS OF THE FARM
WORKER HELPING PROVIDE BETTER
ENFORCEMENT AND WE'RE READY TO
WORK WITH THE AGENCIES TO
IMPROVE THIS ASPECT. I ALSO
WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST THAT WE HEARD A LOT
ABOUT LANGUAGE TAXES. TODAY WE
HAVE INTERPRETERS BECAUSE WE ARE
NONPROFIT PAID FOR IT BECAUSE WE
WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO
MONEY FOR THAT. AND I'M SORRY,
BUT WE CANNOT. HOST A FARMWORKER
HEARING WITH SPANISH SPEAKING
FARMWORKERS AND SAY, OH, EITHER
YOU BRING YOUR INTERPRETER OR WE
CANNOT UNDERSTAND YOU. THAT'S
WHEN ADMISSIBLE. THANK YOU.
MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS. SARAH
FLOCKS. CALIFORNIA LABOR
FEDERATION. THANK YOU FOR HAVING
THIS HEARING AND I WANTED TO
ECHO SOME OF THE EARLIER UNION
SPEAKERS. THERE IS NOTHING THAT
COMPARES TO A UNION CONTRACT TO
IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS AND
ENFORCED WORKERS' RIGHTS AND
WANTED TO COMMEND THE U. F W FOR
THEIR WORK TO SUPPORT WORKERS
RIGHT TO ORGANIZE AND TO KEEP
ENFORCING THE LAW IN THE IN THE
FIELDS FOR FARM WORKERS. I ALSO
BUT THAT SAID ENFORCEMENT IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. AND WE SEE
WITH THE LABOR COMMISSIONER. WE
HAVE HUGE VACANCY RATES. HUGE
VACANCY RATES. THIS IS A CRISIS
FOR WORKERS. WE NEED ENFORCEMENT
AND WE NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THE AGENCIES
TO FILL THOSE THESE POSITIONS SO
THEY CAN DO THEIR WORK AND ALSO
AT CAL OSHA. NEED MORE
INSPECTORS. THEY NEED TO BE OUT
THERE INSPECTING, AND WE NEED TO
INCREASE PENALTIES ACROSS THE
BOARD TO CREATE REAL DETERRENCE
TO HAVE A REASON TO STOP
EMPLOYERS FROM VIOLATING THE
LAW. UM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK IN THIS. THIS AREA
ENFORCEMENT IS A HUGE PRIORITY
FOR THE LABOR FEDERATION. THANK
YOU. WHEN I STARTED THIS TO
ORGANIZE ADORA CAMPESINA, CAMPO
ANTES DE MIA IS SO IT WILL NOT
BE VERY, VERY OH, PANERA CEO
FREEDOM BROUGH THIS WINDOW. OF
COURSE WE REPRESENT NAZARIAN.
GET THE NAME OF PROGRAM. THE
WORK IS SO NECESSARY. SIEGEN
VIVIENDA. SINCERELY MRS. IS NO
TÍNH FAMILIAR. KOREA BENEFICIAL.
ORGANIZATIONS. PROTECTION
RECETAS. ORGANIC FAMILY. THAT IS
CAMPESINA. CAMPESINOS PRONTO. NO
SAYING THAT SOCIETY GRACIAS.
HELLO MY NAME IS VIRGINIA. I'M
AN ORGANIZER BELIEVING
ENCOMPASSING US. I'VE WORKED IN
THE FIELD BEFORE AND HOLD UP.
HOLD UP. WE NEEDED TO TRACK DO
WE NEED TO TRUST ME TRANSLATING?
I'M SORRY. HI. MY NAME IS
VIRGINIA. I'M AN ORGANIZER FOR
LEAVING HIS CAMPESINOS. I WORKED
IN THE FIELD BEFORE AND DURING
THE PANDEMIC. I WITNESSED THE
INJUSTICES. UM ON A DAILY BASIS.
MY COLLEAGUE TONIGHT HAVE
SUFFERED ABUSE, WHICH STEPPED
HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. ONE
OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT A SEE WHAT WHICH WOULD
THIS HELPED WORKERS LIVING IN
THE SHADOWS WITH RESOURCES AS WE
WORK IN COMMUNITY. WHERE
ESSENTIAL BY PUTTING FOOD ON THE
TABLES, AND MANY WORKERS DO NOT
HAVE ENOUGH TO FEED THEIR
FAMILIES. UM. THE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS. UM, ARE NOT SORRY. UM.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT
ENOUGH TO REPLACE THE WAGES THAT
WE ARE NOT GETTING, AND WE
DESERVE PROTECTIONS, UM, THAT
ARE GIVEN FROM THE
ORGANIZATIONS. UM AND HOPED THAT
YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP US DEFEND
THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE WORKING. THANK YOU.
WHEN I STARTED MY NUMBER, 20
ANTONIO, EVEN FRESNO. EVEN IN
LATIN MEAN? A. VLADO SK LA
STRADA DEL CAMPO SYSTEM. I AM
ADORA. SEE THEY'RE SO NICE.
WHICHEVER E. IT'S A YOUR SYSTEM
MUCH EXTRA HARD TO GET THE. GOOD
AFTERNOON NORTH AND SANTONIO AND
I COME FROM THE FROM FRESNO
COUNTY WITH MS NEHA MEAN AND I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT A
LOT OF THINGS TODAY, BUT WHAT WE
HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT IS THE
FACT THAT OUR FARM WORKERS ARE
PASSING AWAY BECAUSE OF, UM AH
VALLEY FEVER, AND I KNOW WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF ISSUES,
BUT THAT'S AN ISSUE WE HAVE NOT
COVERED TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY
THEY GIVE IT ALL FOR THEIR WORK.
BUT WORK IS KILLING THEM. THERE
ARE MANY WORKERS WHO HAVE VALUE
FEVER. THANK YOU. WHEN I STARTED
SANTONIO BENGAL, FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA MEAN MILLION
COMMODITY NOTICE NOMINAL
PRESSURE KAMALA WHOLE. WHAT WAS
THE EMPEROR ADDRESSING?
ADDRESSING CUENTA TODD LOZANO'S
TABLA QUATRANO? PARA SOCCER? THE
CONTRE TOUS, TAS OR RANCHEROS
CAN ALSO BRING A MASK. GRACIAS.
VICIOUS AND FROM YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANTONIO
AND I COME FROM FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT
EVERY YEAR WE DON'T GET AN
INCREASE TO LIKE THE BUCKET OF,
UM GARLIC OR TABLE GRAPE. IT
DOESN'T GO OVER 34 CENTS, AND WE
HAVE TO HUSTLE TO BE ABLE TO
EARN OUR MONEY. AND I WISH THAT
YOU COULD GET TOGETHER OR HAVE
GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THE
CONTRACTORS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
A MORE FAIR WEIGHT OR EARNINGS.
YES STAY WHEN I STARTED. NOMBRES
SAYS ON YOUR THROAT. CAMPO IS
THE IMMEDIATE THERE'S A
FRESHNESS BUT COMPANY ASUS CAMPO
AGAIN. I TAMBIÉN DEMÓCRATAS.
ALEJO'S. AND DON'T SAY THE
PETITION EXPORT BB, THOUGH
INCARNATE APPROPRIATELY, STASIA
SALARIO LAST LÀ WA HANOI'S.
VANYA SOCIALS SENTENCES RAMOS,
ESPERO STICK AND CHILD RACES. MY
NAME IS OTILIA ORTIGOZA AND I
HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELDS
FOR 16 YEARS. AND I COME HERE
FROM THE COMMUNITY OF FRESNO TO
BE HEARD. JUST LIKE MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE SPOKEN
BECAUSE WE WANT OUR WORKPLACE TO
BE SECURE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
LEVERING SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
WORKING TO TAKE MONEY HOME TO
OUR FAMILIES. SO MY PETITION IS
BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED IN FLEW IN
THE FLESH. THE INJUSTICE OF
SALARIES. AND THE WATER WHICH IS
NOT POTABLE. WE CAN'T DRINK IT
DIRTY RESTROOMS AND THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE ASKING FOR. I HOPE THAT
OUR TRAVEL HERE THAT WE ARE
HEARD. HELLO MY NAME IS JESSICA.
AND TODAY I'M HERE WITH
CENTRALLY NATIONAL ESTARÁ
GHEDINA. I WORK WITH THEM IN
SALINAS AND MONTEREY COUNTY,
THOUGH I'M THANKFUL THAT OUR
FARM WORKERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE
SPACE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES
AND CONCERNS AS SOMEONE WHO GETS
TO WHO HAS EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND
AND WHO GETS TO HEAR THE
RELATIONS OF FARMWORKERS, RIGHT?
I HOPE WE CAN WORK TOWARDS REAL
CONSEQUENCES FOR THIS EMPLOYERS
THAT ACTUALLY DETER THEM FROM
CONTINUING THIS VIOLATIONS AS
LONG AS OTHER WERE RECEIVED IS
THE EQUIVALENT OF A SLAP ON THE
WRIST. IF THAT THESE VIOLATIONS
WILL CONTINUE. I AM HOPEFUL THAT
THIS HEARING IS THE FIRST STEP
TOWARDS REAL JUSTICE AND
PROTECTION FOR OUR FARM WORKER
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. HELLO MY
NAME IS KEVIN AND GOING WITH THE
FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION
OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH WAS FOUNDED
BY QUAKERS IN 1952. WE URGED THE
COMMITTEE TO REPORT THE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
YOU'VE HEARD TODAY TO IMPROVE
HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS AND
THE PROCESS OF FILING COMPLAINTS
SUCH AS EXPERT NAVIGATORS, AND
WE SUPPORTED UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR ALL
FARMWORKERS. A SAFETY NET FOR
ALL. THANK YOU. HELLO MY NAME IS
GABRIELLA FAZIO AND I'M HERE
TODAY REPRESENTING SIERRA CLUB
CALIFORNIA. WE STAND IN
SOLIDARITY WITH FARM WORKERS
TODAY AND RECOGNIZE THE
INCREDIBLE EFFORTS THEY HAD TO
SHOW UP TO THIS HEARING HOURS
AWAY FROM THEIR HOPE TO
REPRESENT THEIR FRONTLINE
COMMUNITIES. IT IS A PRIORITY TO
SIERRA CLUB TO SUPPORT AN
EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM THAT
PROVIDES SAFE WORKING
CONDITIONS. UM SO SORRY. CLIMATE
RESILIENCE AND LINGUISTIC AND
CULTURAL ACCESSIBILITY TO
WORKERS. WITH THAT SENSE HERE
CLUB CALIFORNIA ENDORSES AND
URGES YOU TO SUPPORT THE
SOLUTIONS RECOMMENDED HERE BY
WORKERS, ADVOCATES AND
RESEARCHERS TO SIGNIFICANTLY
EXPAND COLLISIONS CAPACITY FOR
STAFF RECRUITMENT SO THAT COLOR
SHOULD CAN BETTER SERVE AND
ENSURE FARM WORKERS' RIGHTS. TO
SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKING
CONDITIONS AND THE CALL FOR A
PUBLICLY FUNDED EXPERT
NAVIGATORS PROGRAM AT COMMUNITY
BASED FARM WORKER ORGANIZATIONS
TO HELP FARMWORKERS FILE WORK
PET WORKPLACE SAFETY COMPLAINTS.
FURTHERMORE MADAM CHAIR I
APPRECIATE YOU FOR LEADING THIS
HEARING AND FOR SHARING THE
EMOTIONS YOU FEEL HEARING
TESTIMONIES TODAY. AH I JUST
WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE DATA
INFORMATION YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
IS RIGHT HERE. THIS ROOM IS
FILLED WITH LIVES AND LIVE
EXPERIENCES AS A REALIST PROOF
OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED
, SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO
REALLY THINK ABOUT USING THE
AVAILABLE RESOURCES, POWER AND
DEDICATION YOU HAVE TO TAKE IN
THE REAL SOLUTIONS TO THESE
ISSUES THAT WORKERS AND
ADVOCATES HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO
DEVELOP AND BRING TO YOU HERE
TODAY. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON
. UM FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO GO
AHEAD AND SAY MY NAME IS DANIEL
MARTINEZ. I AM A COMMUNITY
ORGANIZER AND THE MONTEREY BAY
REGION WITH SAFE SEX SAFE
SCHOOLS, AND EVERYBODY TALKS
ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT WARS
HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD,
RIGHT. BUT NOBODY REALLY TALKS
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN
OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITIES
OF COLORS WHERE WE HAVE OUR FARM
WORKERS THAT ARE NOT ONLY
WORKING THESE EXCESS AMOUNT OF
HOURS OUT IN THE FIELDS HORRIBLE
PAY HORRIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME ARE BEING
POISONED THERE BEING POISONED BY
PESTICIDES, PESTICIDES THAT WORK
CREATED BY DURING THE WAR ERA
THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED ANYMORE IN
THE WAR, BUT THERE ARE BEING
CURRENTLY USED OUT IN OUR FIELDS
. AND FOR ME, THAT IS SHAMEFUL
THAT CALIFORNIA IS STILL DOING
THAT. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK
YOU CHAIR ORTEGA FOR MAKING SURE
THAT WE HOLD THESE DIFFERENT
AGENCIES ACCOUNTABLE LIKE CAL
OSHA LIKE DPR. WE NEED TO DO
BETTER FOR OUR FARM WORKERS
BECAUSE IF IT ISN'T FOR THEM, WE
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON
OUR TABLE. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. HELLO THANK
YOU FOR HAVING US. MY NAME IS
MICHELLE PEREA, RYAN AND I'M A
NURSE PRACTITIONER AND WITH THE
CALIFORNIA NURSES FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND
JUSTICE, AND I HAVE CARED FOR AT
LEAST 25 YEARS FOR FARM WORKERS
AND CANNERY WORKERS IN OUR
VALLEYS AND YOU KNOW, THESE ARE
NOT NEW. I GUESS THAT'S THE
BIGGEST THING THAT YOU KNOW THIS
HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS AND
YEARS, AND YET WE'RE JUST MAKING
MOVEMENT ON IT. THAT'S THE PART.
THAT IS NOT OKAY. AND SO I WANT
TO STILL KEEP ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY'RE
GOING TO DO BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD
THESE STORIES OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, AND I JUST WANT US TO
KNOW THAT IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE
THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE ONLY GOING TO GET
WORSE FOR FARM WORKERS. I MEAN,
WE'RE SEEING SMOKE, AND WE'RE
ALLOWING, UM, THE FARMERS TO
ONLY PROVIDE MASKS OR PP PROPER
PPE. WHEN IT'S 150 TO 500. WE
WOULDN'T ALLOW ANYBODY, BUT
WE'RE ALLOWING THEM TO WORK AND
WORK HARD AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO
HAVE MASKS IN THE HEAT. WE'RE
LOOKING AT ILLNESSES THAT ARE
ACUTE. BUT THERE IS CHRONIC
ILLNESS OF KIDNEY FAILURE THAT'S
HAPPENING WITH OUR FARM WORKERS
NOW AND SO WE NEED TO PROTECT
THEM AND OFFER THE PROPER PPE
THAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS POINT
IN TIME AND THE SAME WITH VALLEY
FEVER. WE KNOW THE SPORES ARE
GOING TO BE HIGHER THIS YEAR
BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S BEEN RAIN
AFTER DROUGHT SPORTS INCREASE,
AND WE ARE NOT PROVIDING THE
PROPER PPE FOR OUR FARM WORKERS
AND PROTECTING THEM FROM THE
ILLNESSES THAT ARE SPECIALLY TO
THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, AND
YET THEY ARE ESSENTIAL WORKERS
WHO PROVIDE THE FOOD THAT WE EAT
EVERY DAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. WHEN
I STARTED. I MEAN, HOMBRES
AURELIA MACEIRA MENDEZ CONSENT
TO THE NATIONAL PARK IN THE.
OPPORTUNITY BUT I LOST
TRABAJADORES DEL CAMPO, THE
CITY'S COACH, ODDO'S E IS THE
EXPIRY MOSQUE PRIMERA AUDIENCIA
OJALA REPEATABLE. GOBIERNO
CERVANTES KOREAN CONDO, THEN.
ESTARÁ COLLABORATE IN
RUNYONESQUE ESTAS CUESTA'S CAN
KNOW NORMA'S VISTO, THEN THROUGH
THE TNCS. IT'S UM. THEY ASSERT
CAMBIOS. THIS IS BUENO. RABIES
ARE KILLED, REGULAR STANDING TO
THE PODRIAN AYUDAR CAMPESINOS
RECOURSES. THE LABOR COMMISSION.
ZAMBIAN REQUIERAN ADELANTE
BENEFICIAL GRACIAS. GOOD
AFTERNOON, AURELIA MACEDO MENDEZ
AND I WORK FOR CENTRAL, THE
NATIONAL AND I REALLY WENT TO
APPRECIATE, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY
TO HAVE HEARD OUR FARM WORKERS
TODAY AND WE HOPE THAT THIS IS
ONE OF THE FIRST HEARINGS AND
HOPEFULLY WE CAN REPEAT SO THAT
WE CAN HEAR SOME OF THE
PROPOSALS THAT THE EIGHT
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE. IN
TERMS OF THE ADVANCES THAT HOW
THAT WILL BE OCCURRING. AFTER
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAPPEN IN
COLLABORATION. AND IN PREVIOUS
MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN,
WE HAVE EXPOSED PROPOSALS
PROPOSALS WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN
WITHIN THE AGENCIES THAT AH HAVE
THAT WILL TO MAKE CHANGES, SO IT
IS GOOD TO GO BACK AND REVISE TO
SEE WHAT REGULATIONS ARE WITHIN
THE AGENCY THAT ARE NOT WORKING
THAT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING SO THAT
WE CAN COME BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY WITH THE RESOURCES
THAT THE STATE HAS. WE HAVE ALSO
WORKED WITH THE LABOR
COMMISSIONER, AS WE HAVE
MENTIONED. UM WE NEED TO KEEP
RECREATING THOSE MODELS SO THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR
FARM WORKERS. MEAN HOMBRES
CARMELA GARCIA, ROVING ROCKY,
THE BABY. TO YES, THEY LOOK AT
YOUR MERYL. HÌ. YES THE
COMMUNITY. THEN THEY MUST BE
COMING. YES THE. ME HIM AROUND
BENEATH OR FAMILIAR. WE ARE ALL
THE NTSB'S. MASKING. GOOD DAY I
COME HERE, UM SO THAT YOU COULD
LISTEN TO US. I LEFT MY BABY
SMALL YOUNG BABY AT HOME BECAUSE
I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A NEED. I
HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELDS.
UM I LIVE IN FRESNO AND I'M NOT
SURE SHE SAID TWO OR 12 YEARS,
SO I'LL HAVE TO RECONCILE THAT
12 YEARS AND OFTENTIMES WE ARE.
WE ARE FEMALE. AND WHEN WE WORK
IN THE FIELDS, WE HAVE TO WORK,
UM WALK ALONG, UM, LONG DISTANCE
TO GET TO THE RESTROOMS, AND I
JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT THERE ARE
MANY FAMILIES THAT WOULD HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE BEEN HERE. BUT
BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE, THEY'RE
NOT HERE. BUT IF THIS HEARING
WAS TO BE HELD IN FRESNO, I
THINK A LOT MORE FAMILIES WOULD
BE SHOWING UP. WHEN I STARTED
THIS MEDIUM OVER IRAN, SO
DIRECTOR OF THE POLITICAL
ORGANIZATION. CONDITIONER
ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION THAT IT
EXCLUDES MENTAL BORDELON CCDS
ONLY IMMIGRANTS IN THE GONDOLA
CENTRA COSTA, CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
FRESCO NOSRATOLLAH OCEANS APART
HULA HOOP AND ALSO LLANO
DIRECTOR THE ORGANISM CAÑADA
CORRESPONDENT TEST RESPONSE
DIFFERENT GRADES. CASTANO
CORIANDER. THE ARGUMENT IN LOS
CAMPOS AGRICOLA TRASH DOES
TRABAJADORES AGRICOLAS SANTA
BARBARA DE CUATRO AND COMMON
MANIPULATE MAKIN AREAS. PODEMOS
UPSET, DARKENING PUERTO FAMILIAR
, THUS ELEMENTAL PROGRAM BATTLE.
FINANCE SHADOW CONFIRMED THOSE
PUBLICOS. EXPERTOS DEL CAMPO
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING
CAMPESINOS, BUT WILL BE IN A
START. AGRICOLA. NOBODY IN THE
NAME FORMATION SALON SHOWS THE
LATEST PERSONAL CULTURAL
LINGUISTIC COMMENT.
APPROPRIATENESS GRACIAS. GOOD
AFTERNOON. I WORK WITH POLITICS
WITH BRENDAN. THE UM MR GOING,
THEY CAN AND WE ARE THE ONLY
ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY
WORKING WITH OUR INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION FROM
THE CENTRAL COAST THROUGHOUT
CALIFORNIA, AND TODAY I AM
BRINGING SOME SOLUTIONS FROM OUR
COLLEAGUE THAT I KNOW ONE. WE
WANT A THE CORRESPONDING
AGENCIES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
ON THE DIFFERENT VIOLATIONS THAT
ARE OCCURRING OUT IN THE
AGRICULTURAL FIELDS. IN 2023 TO
WORKERS LOST THEIR LIFE IN THE
COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T COUNT WITH THE
APPROPRIATE TRAINING ON HOW TO
BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE
MACHINERY AND WE CANNOT ACCEPT
ANOTHER DEATH. HAPPENING WHILE
WE ARE THEY ARE TRYING TO
PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES TO
THEY FEED THE REST OF THE
NATION, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE FUNDING A PUBLICLY
FUNDED OPPORTUNITY WITH CALLOWAY
IS WITH EXPERTS OUT IN THE
FIELDS THAT CAN REPRESENT OUR
CAMPESINOS OUR FARM WORKERS SO
THAT WE CAN UH, BY WHAT THE
NEEDS OF OUR AGRICULTURAL
WORKERS AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
AS WE HAD MENTIONED, WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR STATE AND
FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE NOT ONLY
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE. THE
NEEDS BUT THAT THEY ARE ALSO
PREPARED TO MEET THE LINGUISTIC
AND APPROPRIATE NEEDS OF THE OF
FARMWORKER COMMUNITY. GOOD
AFTERNOON. IF RIGHT NOW YOU
LITTLE WITH UFCW. I JUST WANT TO
MENTION THIS TO 1003 TO 2007. I
WAS HELPING WORKERS FROM THEIR E
WORKERS AND THAT HILLARY COUNTY
AND KINGS COUNTY AND I WAS ABLE
TO FILE UM, WAGE UH, DEAF CLAIMS
WOULD EVER COMMISSIONER OF THE
BAKER SALES OFFICE. UM IN SOME
OF THESE CASES, THE EMPLOYERS
WHETHER DIRTY ATTORNEYS UH,
ENDED UP BRINGING ICE TO PICK UP
THE WORKERS FROM THE BAKERS
FEELS, UM, LABOR COMMISSIONER'S
OFFICE AND I WASN'T ABLE TO
PRESENT THEIR CASE BECAUSE THEY
WERE TAKEN AWAY FROM AT THAT
OFFICE. SO TO ME, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
RETALIATION. WHEN I GOT, YOU
KNOW A FEW WORKERS THAT ARE
READY TO PRESENT THEIR CASE THAT
OUR EMPLOYEES ARE STEALING THEIR
MONEY, BUT THAT THE EMPLOYER IS
USING THIS DIRTY TOOLS. TO BRING
THAT THE EYES OF THE MEGARA, BUT
THEY CALL IT AND TAKE THE
WORKERS AWAY WITHOUT PRESENTING
THE CASE. I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR
AND IT'S MAKING. THE OTHER
WORKERS ARE AFRAID OF, UH,
FINDING THEIR CASES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. HI THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY NAME IS ASTRA SHARMA, THE
ORGANIZING CO DIRECTOR WITH
PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK AND
WERE MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA
FARMWORKER ADVOCACY WORKING
GROUP, MANY OF WHICH SPOKE ON
THE PANEL TODAY. UM I JUST WANT
TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU SO
MUCH SARATOGA FOR OFFERING THIS
SPACE WHERE FARM WORKERS CAN
COME AND SHARE DIRECT WITH YOU
THEIR TESTIMONY. IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN
POLICY SPACES AND REALLY
APPRECIATE THE EFFORT. THAT YOU
PUT IN TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND
THE EFFORT THAT ALL THE FARM
WORKERS PUT INTO TRAVEL HERE
TODAY, WHICH ALSO IS NOT EASY,
UM AND I JUST WANT TO UPLIFT THE
TWO SOLUTIONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD
TODAY. NUMBER ONE. WE REALLY
URGENTLY NEED TO REVISIT THE
HIRING REQUIREMENTS. ACT CLOSURE
HELLO SHOWS SO THAT THEY CAN
HIRE CULTURALLY COMPETENT STAFF
AND FILL THOSE TREMENDOUS
VACANCY RATES AND THAT THERE
AREN'T BARRIERS ESPECIALLY
EDUCATIONALLY TO DOING THAT. AND
THAT WE'RE RECRUITING PEOPLE WHO
HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WORKING
WITH FARM WORKERS AND OTHER
IMPACTED COMMUNITIES. IN THE
MEANTIME, GIVEN THE URGENCY WE
REALLY NEED INVESTMENTS IN
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHO CAN EMULATE THE PROGRAM THAT
YOU HEARD ABOUT AT C R L A INK,
SO REALLY ENCOURAGE. UM THANK
YOU FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON
THAT. THANK YOU. WHEN I STARTED.
CALIFORNIA BINGO EXPONENTIALLY
MI EXPERIENCIA CAMPO GRACIAS.
THEY ARE AUMENTO. PROBLEM
TRABAJO QUE MILLET EMAIL. IN THE
MISSISSIPPI EMBRACE HE GRACIAS,
MADRIGAL. RECIPIENT AMERICAN
MENTOS ACERCA THE PROBLEM. FOR
ME, E YOUR BANK WILL REPRESENT
REPRESENTATIVE. THE PRESENTER
PICASSO. GRACIAS. GOOD AFTERNOON
. MY NAME IS LAURA BENITO AND I
COME FROM THE MADURA,
CALIFORNIA. FROM MADERA COUNTY,
AND I COME TO EXPOSE MY
EXPERIENCE AS A FARM WORKER.
THANKS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE NETWORK. I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO RECEIVE SUPPORT. I HAD
AN ISSUE AT THE WORK SITE. I HAD
AN INJURY IN THE MONTH OF
SEPTEMBER, AND IT WAS THINGS TO
ROCIO MADRIGAL THAT I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO HAVE, UH, SUPPORT OR
GUIDANCE BECAUSE I WASN'T
RECEIVING ANY MEDICATION DUE TO
MY ILLNESS, AND UNTIL NOW IT IS
THAT THEY ARE SHOWING SOME
CONCERN FOR MY FOR MY PERSON. I
COME HERE AND REPRESENTATION OF
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE
THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THE COURAGE
TO, UH, TO EXPOSE THESE TYPE OF
CASES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU THAT
CONCLUDE THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM GRACIA'S OY, UH, CDA AND D.
ENDO'S WHO SACRIFICED CEO GANIC,
BUT I GOT A STOCKY TESTIMONIAL
OY. CÁC VOYA ESTÁ COMMITTED TO
SEVERAL GÒM. MENTOS UM THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE, ESPECIALLY
FOR THOSE WHO TRAVELED VERY FAR.
I KNOW THAT IT'S A HUGE
SACRIFICE. TO COME AND TESTIFY
IN A HEARING ROOM HERE IN
SACRAMENTO, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TESTIMONY
AS WELL AS THE AGENCIES THAT
WERE HERE TO REPRESENT, UH, I AM
COMMITTED TO WORKING LONG TERM
ON THIS ISSUE. WE CLEARLY HAVE A
LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND A LOT OF
ACCOUNTABILITY THAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN. ARE NOT JUST TO THOSE
AGENCIES BUT TO OURSELVES. SO I
ASK THAT YOU ALSO HOLD ME
ACCOUNTABLE AND THANK YOU AGAIN
FOR BEING HERE. WITH THAT WE
CONCLUDE THIS HEARING.