Newsom Blocks Heat Safety Bill as Farmworkers Face 35x Higher Heat Death Risk

Govind Tekale Govind Tekale

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What pushed six Yolo County farmworkers to risk their jobs during June's triple-digit temperatures, only to face immediate termination the next day?

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As California heat waves intensify, Cal/OSHA's workplace inspections dropped by 1,000 annually since pre-pandemic levels, with hundreds fewer violations issued.

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[{"selector":"#anim-5b5f4510-155e-41ac-9d70-903ad7705d99","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-93.09623%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c49d7ca-d3ac-4435-baac-c32b862d2f69","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33efc883-ca05-4e4a-8d8a-881f6875f73a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":150,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d4adcd5-cdf5-43d1-aa86-cf5d6108900d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-959437a3-42b1-4595-bba2-49dad0288193","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.87478%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":1300,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f00fd728-ed21-4d42-b89c-c2d7754b1774","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7bd7349-3d14-4443-8ff6-144780659206","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 232.74883%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The vetoed bill would have granted farmworkers similar protections already enjoyed by firefighters, who receive streamlined compensation for job-related illnesses. Photo Source: Google Photo Source: Google

Where does your food come from? Current rules require shade, water, and breaks for field workers - yet nearly half of agricultural employers failed compliance checks.

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The political tension escalates as this veto follows Newsom's initial opposition to the farmworker unionization law, which required intervention from President Biden.

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Newsom Blocks Heat Safety Bill as Farmworkers Face 35x Higher Heat Death Risk

What pushed six Yolo County farmworkers to risk their jobs during June's triple-digit temperatures, only to face immediate termination the next day?

As California heat waves intensify, Cal/OSHA's workplace inspections dropped by 1,000 annually since pre-pandemic levels, with hundreds fewer violations issued.

Where does your food come from? Current rules require shade, water, and breaks for field workers - yet nearly half of agricultural employers failed compliance checks.

The political tension escalates as this veto follows Newsom's initial opposition to the farmworker unionization law, which required intervention from President Biden.

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