Resolution Number SFL08.03

Regarding Heat-Related Deaths Of Farmworkers

WHEREAS, migrant farmworkers make many significant and valuable contributions to the State of California and endure arduous conditions while working in the California agricultural fields; and

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; and on May 15, 2008, Maria Isabel, who was two months pregnant, was working for Merced Farm Labor in a vineyard owned by West Coast Grape Farming when she collapsed; and her body temperature was 108.4 degrees when she was finally taken to a hospital nearly two hours later; and tragically she passed away as a result of heat stroke after not receiving adequate medical attention while working under temperatures of 100 degrees; and to date no one from the companies involved has had the decency to express condolences to Maria Isabel’s family; and

WHEREAS, on June 1 to June 4, 2008, the United Farm Workers held a pilgrimage from Lodi to Sacramento to bring national attention to the tragic death of Maria Isabel and other farmworkers, including approximately 10 other heat related deaths of farmworkers working in temperature above 100 degrees in the last four years in California; and as a result of these tragic deaths, the State of California approved regulations to provide greater protection to farmworkers working under high temperatures; yet there continues to be insufficient enforcement of these regulations to provide the needed protection for farmworkers like Maria Isabel;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that 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 protect farmworkers from heat related injuries and deaths; and 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.

In Memory of Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez

Submitted by the Chicano Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party, Mickie Soloria Luna, Chair; Luis Alejo, Vice Chair, Region 2, (CDP 2008 JFK Honoree) and the Board of the Chicano Latino Caucus

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Adopted by the Executive Board
Of the California Democratic Party
At Its Executive Board Meeting
Westin Hotel, Millbrae 
June 15, 2008