Tell your senators to reject anti-farmworker candidate for ALRB

The safety of California's farmworkers is in jeopardy.  Governor Schwarzenegger is appointing Sharon Runner to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB).  It is the ALRB's job to protect farmworkers and Sharon Runner is not the right person for the job.

SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH SHARON RUNNER?

• In 2005 she voted against AB 805 (Chu), the Heat Illness Prevention Act.
• During the last 6 years, she has voted against EVERY bill brought forth by the United Farm Workers (UFW) that would protect the health and safety of farm workers.
• Sharon Runner has opposed protections such as water, shade and work breaks when field workers are heat-stricken.
• The ALRB is supposed to enforce basic protections for farmworkers and it is unacceptable to have Sharon Runner join the ALRB when she has oppossed such basic protections.
• 15 farmworkers have died since California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office, and their deaths have been investigated as heat-related.
  

We need someone at the ALRB that is willing to stand up for workers' rights and protect a vulnerable workforce, and Sharon Runner is not the answer!

In October, after the deaths of six farm workers due to the summer heat, Gov. Schwarzenegger promised to vigorously enforce his earlier regulations in order to protect farm workers from death or illness because of extreme temperatures. Instead he has appointed an ex-lawmaker to the state farm labor board who even opposed protections such as water, shade and work breaks when field workers are stricken. 

This appointment only makes farmworkers more vulnerable and places their lives in jeopardy.  Join the LCLAA and UFW in calling on the California State Senate to say "NO" to this appointment and quickly REJECT Sharon Runner's confirmation.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am a member of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) and I am seriously concerned about the appointment of Sharon Runner to the ALRB. For the sake of workers' rights and the vulnerability of farmworkers in California, I urge you to quickly reject Sharon Runner's confirmation and make her ineligible to serve on the ALRB. She is not the appropriate candidate to protect farmworkers.

Ms. Runner voted against AB 805 (Chu), the Heat Illness Prevention Act, in 2005. During the last 6 years, she voted against every bill brought forth by the United Farm Workers (UFW) that would protect the health and safety of farmworkers.

There have been 15 farmworkers deaths since California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office, and their deaths have been investigated as heat-related. In October, after six farmworkers perished from the summer heat,Gov. Schwarzenegger promised to vigorously enforce his earlier regulations protecting farmworkers from death or illness because of extreme temperatures. Instead he has appointed an ex-lawmaker to the state farm labor board who even opposed protections such as water, shade and work breaks when field workers are heat-stricken.

Please say "No" to this appointment that could put farmworker lives in jeopardy. I join LCLAA and the UFW in calling on the CA State Senate to quickly reject Runner's confirmation.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 05, 2009