Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Coronavirus outbreak threatens health of California farmworkers

Agricultural workers in strawberry field picking fruit with colorful clothes and hats blue baskets in Irvine California. Photo courtesy of @faa via Twenty20.

Driving along Interstate 5 in California, the vast farmland is the heart of America’s kitchen. Vegetables, fruits, and nuts grow in enormous fields throughout the state’s rural towns. 

California produces one-third of the nation’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. It is responsible for 13 percent of the nation’s agricultural value, and half of the nation’s farmworkers live in California, an estimated 800,000 people

But when the novel coronavirus spread across the U.S., confirmed cases reached 3,894 in California. Governor Gavin Newsom last week ordered 40 million people to stay home except for essential employees. 

Newsom added that farmworkers are essential. 

“Workers reacted very strongly,” said Armando Elenes, secretary treasurer of United Farm Workers Union, Bakersfield. “We are getting paid minimum wage, we have no benefits, no healthcare, no nothing. We basically said, now we are essential? It doesn’t reflect that on our paycheck.” 

Elenes said that farmworkers have to continue work, but benefits such as healthcare are not included in their employment. 

“Even though these are the workers that are harvesting America’s produce, and the backbone of the food industry, they aren’t going to get any benefit, they have no safety net,” he said. “They are petrified of going to work because they might get sick and their families sick. And they are petrified of losing pay because they have no other recourse. Some workers are happy, but others are afraid.” 

Nearly half of California’s farm workers have no health coverage. For the average farmworker, health insurance is not available to them. Agriculture companies do not typically provide health insurance and if they do there are high co-pays and deductibles. Undocumented farmworkers, who make up 75 percent of California’s agricultural industry, are not eligible to apply for insurance. 

Farm workers cultivating the land and farming for food in San Diego, California Photo by @TonyTheTigersSon via Twenty20

This has caused farmworkers to be left without support during a global health crisis. 

UFW conducted a poll of 277 farmworkers in California to see if companies were educating them on catching  the coronavirus. Ninety percent said that their employers were not 

Elenes said that UFW is calling agriculture companies to increase the information given to their employees. 

“We issued a call to action, to all growers in the agriculture industry asking them to step up,” he said. “Asking them to advise their employees of the best practices. Washing your hands, don’t touch your face, and if you’re sick, stay home.” 

They urged growers to offer health benefits to employees and to increase paid sick leave for farmworkers who are ill. 

“We asked them to provide paid sick time of up to 40 hours instead of just 24 hours. In case they are sick, they can stay home and not worry about losing pay,” he said. “We want to protect farm workers, and protect consumers.”

The union asked growers to lessen the requirements for farmworkers who need time off, but are afraid of being denied benefits.

“We asked the growers to stop asking for doctor’s notes. So workers feel more confident in using their sick pay,” he said. “And we asked that if a worker were to be found with the coronavirus, that they would be on paid administrative leave. Reenforcing that workers stay home, take care of themselves, and not spread the virus further.” 

They sent the letter out to union and non-union companies in California. But the companies haven’t responded to the letter yet. 

Hernan Hernandez of the California Farmworkers Foundation in Delano, said that educating workers about the virus goes beyond solely spreading information. Some people in his community do not follow health regulations because of their values. 

“Some companies are following the CDC guidelines,” he said.” But an employer can tell you to do something, but does it translate into a behavior change? Sometimes it’s hard for us as a Hispanic culture, we like to eat together and share the same meals. It’s very tough for them to stop that. They need to know the severity of this virus and know how deadly it can be for them and in the families of their own sector.” 

He said it is difficult changing behaviors in his community when there are news outlets broadcasting other information. 

“We have been ramping up our efforts in the fields and making sure that we say that this is serious,” he said. “It doesn’t help that the Mexican president hasn’t taken the virus seriously himself. When they turn on the news, they see the president hugging and shaking hands at large events. It’s not helping us at all.” 

He is worried that if there is an outbreak it will be hard to contain. But Hernandez is beginning an outreach program for farmworkers who need information.  

“This week you will see a hotline number they can call, and applications for a COVID-19 fund relief,” he said. “We are going to start virtual medical constellations for farmworkers who suffer from chronic illnesses and respiratory illnesses. We will be releasing all of that information online.” 

United Farm Workers is also employing outreach methods to inform farmworkers. From Facebook to visiting farms while being socially distant, they are educating farmworkers on the impact of coronavirus. 

Elenes  said that the pandemic is a reminder that America needs to support people who grow its food. Including health plans, paid sick days, and access to education. 

“We damn better care about what’s happening with our farmworkers, if we want to protect the food supply,” he said. “We have to give workers the protection they need. We have to figure out how to deal with their healthcare. We need to take proactive steps on how to protect themselves and work safely.”

 

Author


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Annie Burky May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

Courtney Guarino December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020