- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



A message from League of United Latin American Citizens



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



View as web page:

[link removed]



April 16, 2024
Contact: David Cruz - (818) 689-9991 Mobile
[email protected]



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 Hispanic civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic
Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC,
with 535 Councils and 145,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico,
LULAC’s programs, services, and advocacy address the most important issues for
Latinos, meeting the critical needs of today and the future. For more
information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .















- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -





Make sure you receive email from LULAC. Add

[email protected] to your approved senders list.



This email was sent to: [email protected]



Click here to unsubscribe from email sent by LULAC.

[link removed]





Paid for by LULAC ( [link removed] ) and not

authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.



Contributions or gifts to LULAC are not tax-deductible.



Design by Plus Three [link removed]

Powered by ARCOS [link removed]



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -