FW: Immigrants Describe Unsafe Work

[Guest guest]

I am sure that this article resonates with many of your experiences with

immigrants and hopefully will result in a federal action plan or policy

reform. The elevated rates of stomach (gastric) cancer found among UFW

members could also be related to drinking water with elevated nitrate, a

common phenomenon in rural areas with shallow wells and heavy fertilizer

applications or concentrated livestock production. Gastric cancer is highly

correlated with total dietary intake of nitrate, i.e. all food sources,

alcohol (beer), tobacco, and water. There could also be a synergistic

effect tied to pesticide exposure. Thanks to the UFW for posting.

Cheers,

Lighthall

CIRS

-----Original Message-----

From: JOCELYN SHERMAN [mailto:UFWOFAMER@...]

Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2002 9:16 AM

UFW@...

Subject: Immigrants Describe Unsafe Work

News from the Farm Worker Movement(www.ufw.org):

Immigrants Describe Unsafe Work

2/27/02

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER

..c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - At a hearing Wednesday overflowing with foreign-born

and Hispanic laborers, senators heard about workers who have fallen to

their deaths, been exposed to toxic chemicals and toiled on farms

without access to drinking water or bathrooms.

``We are treated like garbage,'' said You Di Liao, who told the Senate

Health subcommittee on employment, safety and training that she worked

14 hours a day at a New York garment sweatshop before losing her job

because of an injury. Liao, speaking Chinese through a translator, urged

Congress to ban mandatory overtime that some companies require.

Sen. Wellstone chaired the hearing, which was to gather information

on workplace conditions for immigrant workers. He said too often such

workers are considered expendable.

``Disposable - I can't tell you how many times I've heard this sentiment

expressed,'' said Wellstone, D-Minn. ``This is truly unacceptable.''

Henshaw, assistant labor secretary for the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration, testified that immigrants and Hispanic workers

account for a disproportionate share of workplace fatalities. He said

OSHA has been trying to reach out to Spanish-speaking workers to cut

down on deaths and injuries.

Newsday reporter Maier, who wrote a five-part series on the

subject for the Long Island newspaper last year, said the 10-month

investigation revealed that hundreds of immigrant worker deaths are

never investigated.

``America's immigrant workers are the lowest-paid and the least

protected,'' he said. Maier's series included the deaths of two young

men from El Salvador at the same garbage recycling plant on Long Island.

One fell 20 feet from atop a sorting machine; the other plunged into an

uncovered, unmarked manhole.

Advocates also described vulnerable immigrant farm workers.

Arturo , president of the United Farm Workers of America, said

farm workers face increased risk for cancer, which he blamed on

pesticides. And he noted federal law exempts employers of 10 or fewer

workers from providing toilets, hand-washing facilities or drinking

water.

Sharon , executive vice president of the National Council of

Agricultural Employers, said most farms provide those facilities anyway.

On the Net: OSHA: http://www.osha.gov/

United Farm Workers of America: http://www.ufw.org/

National Council of Agricultural Employers: http://www.agemployers.org/

AP-NY-02-27-02 1833EST

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press

For more information on the Farm Worker Movement visit our web site at

http://www.ufw.org and/or subscribe to the Farm Worker Movement list serve

by sending an e-mail to UFW-subscribe@.... To unsubscribe send an

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