Your dollars can bring change to the grape fields

[Omaha Steve]

https://secure.ga6.org/08/grapes09/

Your dollars can bring change to the grape fields

The summer has started and soon many of us will be enjoying California grapes. But for many of the workers who bring these grapes to us, there's little to enjoy. The UFW is fighting to change that. You can help give a better life and future to these table grape workers by making a donation.

We constantly hear stories about grape workers having no protection from the sweltering sun. Grape worker Roberto Bravo tells us, "If the supervisor would see someone under some shade taking a break, he would threaten to replace him while all the while sitting in his air conditioned truck."

We’ve told you about people who get sick from pesticides sprayed in the grapes. But even the sprayers can get sick after being drenched with toxins during shifts of up to 16 hours. Sprayer Martin Casarez describes how "we use tractors with no cabins to apply the chemicals. And when we are spraying the chemicals, we are completely bathed in the chemical...I am afraid that my kids will be affected in the future or that I can get cancer." When Martin asked for more protection, his supervisor responded, "I don't want to see a tarp or something that will affect your view."

As little as workers make, to get ahead costs even more. Loaders often have to pay their supervisors a $300-500 kickback for the "privilege" of being hired for this grueling job. Loader Raymundo Garcia told us how he paid his supervisor $300--along with "$60 a week for the opportunity to work extra hours."

Workers who drive the trucks loaded with grapes don't get off much easier. Roberto Bravo, who is a veteran trucker, tells us once the fruit is on the trucks, supervisors "would pressure us to hurry and take the grapes to the cold storage. They wanted us to drive at high speed because they have us clocked at how long it should take us to get there." This not only puts Roberto and other drivers at risk, but also the innocent people who share the road with these speeding trucks.

You can help make things better for grape workers. History has shown the only way they can have decent conditions is with a union contract. Every dollar you send will help us continue to organize grape workers. Please make your donation today.

Use the link: https://secure.ga6.org/08/grapes09/