Monday morning lobbying; 1 p.m. vote
Hundreds of farm workers return to state Capitol for a vote on overtime pay
Giving up another day’s pay are workers frommost major California crops and farm regions
Sacramento, Calif.—Hundreds of farm workers from most of California’s major cash crops and agricultural regions will give up another day’s pay to return to the state Capitol when the full Assembly votes on AB 1066, which would end their 78-year exclusion from overtime pay after eight hours a day that nearly all other American workers have received since the 1930s.
Some 250 farm workers traveled to the Capitol on Thursday on the measure by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) that many see as reversing eight decades of second-class status. They spent the day visiting lawmakers’ offices.
Afterwards, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon addressed the workers, acknowledging the sacrifices they made to be present and promising a vote Monday on AB 1066. “This bill has to pass,” the speaker declared. “And I will do everything in my power to make sure it does happen.”
Once again forfeiting a day’s wages on Monday so they can be seen and heard by legislators will be Central Valley tomato, citrus, tree fruit, table grape and nut workers; Central Coast strawberry, vegetable, mushroom and wine grape laborers; and Napa and Sonoma counties wine grape workers.
Who: Hundreds of farm workers from most of California’s major cash crops and agricultural regions; UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez.
What: Lobbying lawmakers for AB 1066, ending their 78-year exclusion from overtime pay after eight hours a day.
When: Monday, Aug. 29, 2016. Workers will begin door-to-door visits to legislators’ Capitol offices at 9 a.m.; Assembly vote expected at 1 p.m.
Where: State Capitol, Sacramento, CA 95814.
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