News

Resolutions

• Resolution Regarding Heat-Related Deaths of Farmworkers

  
  
  

  Whereas migrant farmworkers make many significant and valuable contributions to the State of California;
  
  

  Whereas farmworkers continue to endure arduous conditions while working in the California agricultural fields;
  
  

  Whereas Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez, age 17, came from Oaxaca, Mexico to the United States to work in the grape vineyards in the area of Stockton, California;
  
  

  Whereas, on May 15, 2008, Maria Isabel tragically passed away as a result of a heat stroke after not receiving adequate medical attention while working under temperatures of 100 degrees;
  
  

  Whereas, Maria Isabel, who was two months pregnant, was working for Merced Farm Labor in a vineyard owned by West Coast Grape Farming.
  
  

  Whereas, her body temperature was 108.4 degrees when she was finally taken to a hospital nearly two hours after she collapsed.
  
  

  Whereas, to date no one from the companies involved has had the decency to express condolences to Maria Isabel's family
  
  

  Whereas, the United Farm Workers held a pilgrimage from Lodi to Sacramento beginning on June 1 to June 4, 200 to bring national attention the tragic death of Maria Isabel and other farmworkers;
  
  

  Whereas, there has approximately 10 other heat related deaths of farmworkers working in temperatures above 100 degrees in the last four years in California;
  
  

  Whereas, as a result of these tragic deaths, the State of California approved regulations to provide greater protection to farmworkers working under high temperatures;
  
  

  Whereas there continues to be insufficient enforcement of these regulations to provide the needed protection for farmworkers like Maria Isabel;
  
  

  BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHICANO LATINO CAUCUS OF THE CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
  
  

  Calls on the Governor and Legislature of the State of California to provide additional resources for necessary enforcement of regulations to protecting farmworkers from heat related injuries and deaths;
  
  

  Calls on the Governor and Legislature of the State of California to provide additional protections to help ensure that there will be no other tragic deaths of farmworkers working under high temperatures in California agricultural fields.
  
  Submitted by Mickie Solorio Luna, Chair, Chicano Latino Caucus
  Luis Alejo, Vice Chair Region 2, Chicano Latino Caucus (2008 CDP JFK Honoree)
  And the Board of the Chicano Latino Caucus