Item
As pandemic rages, farmworkers say employers are ‘prioritizing production over … lives’
Title (Dublin Core)
As pandemic rages, farmworkers say employers are ‘prioritizing production over … lives’
Description (Dublin Core)
As of early July, 87 workers and 58 family members, 23 of them children, had tested positive for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, according to data compiled by United Farm Workers, a labor union. Many more are awaiting results.
“I don’t want to go back,” Bertha said. She feels she has only two options: Accept the working conditions, or quit.
The pandemic has forced agricultural workers throughout the Southwest to make a similar choice between their health and their incomes. Though industry representatives say farms are doing everything they can do to protect their employees, worker advocates argue a lack of industry protections – and the “invisibility” of much of the work done by day laborers – have made farmworkers especially vulnerable to exploitation.
“It just shows the contradiction in calling somebody an ‘essential worker’ but only for what you need them for, not to care for them as human beings that also are afraid of getting sick,” said Juanita Valdez-Cox, a migrant-rights advocate in Texas.
“I don’t want to go back,” Bertha said. She feels she has only two options: Accept the working conditions, or quit.
The pandemic has forced agricultural workers throughout the Southwest to make a similar choice between their health and their incomes. Though industry representatives say farms are doing everything they can do to protect their employees, worker advocates argue a lack of industry protections – and the “invisibility” of much of the work done by day laborers – have made farmworkers especially vulnerable to exploitation.
“It just shows the contradiction in calling somebody an ‘essential worker’ but only for what you need them for, not to care for them as human beings that also are afraid of getting sick,” said Juanita Valdez-Cox, a migrant-rights advocate in Texas.
By Jessica Myers/Luce Foundation: Southwest Stories Fellowship
Date (Dublin Core)
July 15, 2020
Creator (Dublin Core)
Jessica Myers
Contributor (Dublin Core)
Erin Crafat
Event Identifier (Dublin Core)
Cronkite-LuceFellowship
Partner (Dublin Core)
Arizona State University
Type (Dublin Core)
link
Link (Bibliographic Ontology)
Publisher (Dublin Core)
Cronkite News
Controlled Vocabulary (Dublin Core)
English
Agriculture
English
Labor
English
Health & Wellness
English
Social Issues
Curator's Tags (Omeka Classic)
undocumented workers
farm workers
Primex
infections
food security
precautions
Contributor's Tags (a true folksonomy) (Friend of a Friend)
lucegrant
Collection (Dublin Core)
Luce Grant
Exhibit (Dublin Core)
Southwest Stories>Jessica Myers
Date Submitted (Dublin Core)
10/20/2020
Date Modified (Dublin Core)
10/10/2020
10/21/2020
07/15/2021
11/12/2023