Joshua Slack
On March 28, 2024, a month after the tragic accident that claimed the lives of seven farmworkers, the Pan Valley Institute organized a vigil to honor their memory. The community came together to mourn and pay their respects.
ArteVism intern Natalie Moreno, along with other interns and fellows, created an altar in the center of a pavilion in a park at the heart of Madera. The altar was adorned with photos of the farmworkers, candles, flowers, fresh fruit, and copal.
Despite the inclement weather, around 60 community members showed up, many of them bringing flowers and candles to add to the altar. As community members arrived, they joined the circle around the altar.
During the vigil, many community members shared their grief and how difficult it had been to process the tragedy. Family members of the farmworkers also expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support they received and thanked the community for creating a space where their loved ones could be remembered.
Joshua Slack
A tearful woman said when you go home, make sure you kiss, hug, and tell your loved ones how much you love and care about them because, unfortunately, things like this happen, and you may not get to do it.
Those words resonated as I read about another tragic death that occurred a few days before the car accident of the farm workers. This death may have been overlooked because it was one life, but it is important to note because of how tragic it was.
On February 21, a young man died at a poultry plant in Fresno after being run over and killed by a heavy-duty truck. He was the second person to die at this plant. In May 2023, another man drowned in a chicken waste pit at the facility.
Both tragic deaths could have been prevented if the facility had the proper working conditions. This facility lacks good lighting and reflective safety gear, which could have saved this young man's life.
Many people are losing their lives due to unsafe working conditions, while major agriculture organizations are investing millions of dollars in ads that promote anti-union rhetoric on multiple radio stations throughout the state. These ads are meant to "inform" the farm working community about the 2023 California "Card check law," which is supposed to make it easier for farm workers to vote in union elections.
However, in reality, these ads are misinforming the farm workers and devaluing the power of the union. It is evident that these companies are prioritizing their profits over the safety and well-being of their employees by intentionally investing in the anti-union rhetoric and not taking any steps to make positive changes.
We need to continue urging the agro-industry and policy-making leaders to focus on enacting and implementing legislation that values human lives and prioritizes the safety and well-being of workers.
Until a positive change is achieved, our community will continue working daily for low wages and under dangerous conditions. Until then, the tragic but avoidable accidents will continue to repeat in California’s Central Valley.