The Editor: The Editor asks LULAC VP's from the LULAC organization and LULAC State Directors, District Directors and Councils from across the country to send communiques to the LULAC VP for the Southeast and to the Florida LULAC State Director expressing their support in fighting this worker issue in Florida.
Lydia Medrano, LULAC National Vice President for the Southeast
Eliseo Santana Jr., Florida LULAC State Director.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
David Cruz - (818) 689-9991
Mobile
April
16, 2024
DavidCruz@LULAC.org
LULAC Condemns Governor DeSantis' Reckless
Actions Endangering Latino Essential Workers
Nation's Oldest
and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Denounces State Ban Against Water
and Shade Breaks Despite Record-Setting Heat in 2023 and Forecast for This Year
Washington, DC - The League of
United Latin American Citizens vehemently condemns Governor Ron DeSantis'
recent actions, which pose a grave threat to the health and safety of Latino
essential workers in the state. Last Thursday's signing of a bill banning local
governments from mandating heat and water breaks for outdoor workers directly
endangers the lives of thousands of workers, particularly in industries such as
construction and farming.
"National LULAC strongly
opposes the actions of Governor Ron DeSantis that endanger the health and lives
of our Latino essential workers who have to toil in Florida's weather,"
says Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President. "The state ranks third
hottest in the United States and recorded the highest temperatures ever in
Florida this past July and August. DeSantis is trading money for misery or
worse that people will suffer, and Floridians should decry this
injustice," adds Garcia.
This bill was enacted as a direct
response to Miami-Dade County's initiative to enforce shade and water breaks
for construction, farm, and other outdoor workers. With Miami-Dade estimating a
workforce of over 325,000 individuals in these sectors alone, it is evident
that such protections are crucial for safeguarding the well-being of workers in
Florida.
"We will hold him accountable,
as well as all those employers who force workers to go nonstop during their
shifts," says Lydia Medrano, LULAC national vice president for the
Southeast. "It is inhumane to deny workers water and shade breaks when
they must endure hotter temperatures and Florida's high humidity. They are
human beings too, and their lives matter more than profit," adds Medrano.
However, with the enactment of this
bill, Florida's 66 other counties are now prohibited from implementing similar
protections for outdoor workers. This decision directly undermines the safety
and dignity of workers across the state, prioritizing profit over human lives.
"This is a crime against
humanity, sentencing many of our most vulnerable and essential workers to
inhumane conditions, physical injuries, and deaths," says Eliseo Santana
Jr., Florida LULAC State Director. "Government is supposed to protect
people, not make it legal to mistreat them," he adds.
Florida LULAC urges Governor
DeSantis to reconsider his stance and prioritize the well-being of all
Floridians, regardless of their occupation or background. Furthermore, we call
upon state lawmakers to repeal this harmful legislation and enact policies prioritizing
workers' health and safety. In solidarity with Latino essential workers and all
workers across Florida, we stand firm in our commitment to fight against unjust
policies that endanger lives and perpetuate exploitation.
# # #
About LULAC
The
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic
Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington,
D.C., with over 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico,
LULAC's programs, services, and advocacy address the most critical issues
affecting the Hispanic community, including education, employment, immigration,
and healthcare. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.
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