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THE DESERT SUN (
Judge sides with farmworkers' suit
A Riverside County Superior Court judge has issued a temporary
injunction against a Ventura-based labor contractor after two Coachella
Valley farmworkers said they were not provided water or shade while
working in the desert heat earlier this month.
The move forces the company to follow California law, which requires
cool drinking water and breaks to prevent heat stress, or face possible
contempt charges with fines or jail. As reported on mydesert.com, the
case goes to court July 3.
The June 17 lawsuit sought an emergency order for a temporary injunction
against Magaña Labor Services Inc. An attorney representing Magaña did
not return phone calls Monday.
The suit - brought by attorneys with California Rural Legal Assistance
in Coachella - also seeks a permanent injunction and more than $25,000
in lost wages, benefits, physical suffering and anguish.
Celia Cardenas Acuña and Juan Carlos Garcia, who picked peppers in the
Coachella Valley, claim they were fired June 3 along with the entire
crew of 25 for complaining about the working conditions.
"It's unimaginable that we have to go to court to ensure basic human
rights. They're not cattle," said Arturo Rodriguez, an attorney with
California Rural Legal Assistance representing the farmworkers.
In the past two weeks, officials with United Farm Workers - the national
organization founded by César Chávez - has conducted checks in the
valley's fields.
"Just a few of them were complying," said Lauro Bajaras, organizing
director of UFW in Oxnard. "The majority were not.
"What we don't want is more people to die."
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