Click the graphic of a Facebook post showing two workers in blue clothing holding signs at a strike for safe working conditions and hazard pay in Eastern Washington to access the post on Community to Community Development’s Facebook page

May 13, 2020 Community to Community Development

UPDATE ON EMERGENCY RULES IN HOUSING IN AGRICULTURE: The Dept of Labor and Industries has finally released the rules for housing. In spite of all the public comments, the position and arguments of C2C and familias Unidas por la Justicia, science and medical data on how this deadly virus is transmitted the State Agencies have chosen to risk farm workers lives in favor of the economic interests of the corporate agricultural producers, mostly tree fruit . We would like to thank all of our friends and allies for standing with farm workers during this difficult time. Much more will be required from all of us, to support farm worker families and communities, given this lack of protections from our State Government.

OUR IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS:
1- THESE RULES DON’T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL MAY 18–WAY TOO LATE, AS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS HAVE ARRIVED AND ARE ARRIVING
·2- We are disappointed that bunk beds with barriers are allowed
3- We appreciate requirements for cleaning and limits on shared bathrooms and kitchen areas but concerned not strong enough, and risk still high when combined with bunk beds allowed
4- And lastly very concerned that there will be very limited enforcement of the housing rules as the agencies are not committing more resources to enforcement

Access this post on Community to Community Development’s Facebook page here.

Contact Information:

https://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/contacting-governors-office, housing@doh.wa.gov, cynthia.ireland@lni.wa.gov