Migrant Field Workers’ Basic Needs Still Not Being Met Despite Pandemic

Eight months into the coronavirus pandemic, migrant farm workers in Ventura and Oxnard continue to work through unsafe conditions despite promises for change. 

In an industry historically infamous for poor working conditions, COVID-19 has only amplified the dangers faced by farm workers, who receive little to no support from their employers. Many laborers do not have space to comply with social distancing regulations because of how companies such as Reiters, the main supplier for Driscolls, have failed to make space in their rows of produce and boarding rooms, leading to major outbreaks. Off the farm, low wages combined with poor infrastructure have added fuel to the fire. 

“Reiter’s big outbreak was in the Oxnard area, they had about 200 workers in a farm labor camp and over 90% of them tested positive,” said Lucas Zucker, the communications director of Cause, an organization focused on social and economic justice within immigrant communities. “From our perspective, there could’ve been a lot more done by these companies to make sure they were helping their workers and were more proactive in inspecting their supply chain.”  Their outbreak happened in June, occurring on their housing grounds for laborers, though not all of them were working for Reiter or Driscoll’s directly.

Compared to another outbreak in Santa Maria, Reiter handled the situation fairly well. They reported it immediately and limited the spread of the virus by quarantining and screening those involved. However, as Mr. Zucker mentioned, more prevention methods could have been implemented. For instance, at the time of the outbreak, workers slept in groups of five per room. Then they presumably went to work and mingled with others not living with them, which amplified the probability of infection. Though no fatalities occurred, those impacted still have to live with the health repercussions; the infections are an ever-present reminder that there is not enough being done to minimize the spread of the virus.

As described in the coverage of the Reiter outbreak, social distancing is not a well-kept rule in this field, both when physically picking crops and in housing. As Mr. Zucker explained, “The rows (of the crops) are so narrow that they’re not even 6 feet apart.” At the beginning of the pandemic, corporations tried to stagger everyone on the fields to create a safe distance between them, but this has been somewhat ignored as time has passed. During the hot summer months, companies are required by Title 8, Section 3395 of the California Code of Regulations to provide adequate shade: “Shade shall be present when the temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. When the outdoor temperature in the work area exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the employer shall have and maintain one or more areas with shade at all times while employees are present that are either open to the air or provided with ventilation or cooling.” This year, however, the shade provided was not large enough to maintain social distancing. Workers were indirectly forced to get close to each other to escape the brutal sun, again leading to the interaction of people from different groups. 

Cilantro plants sprout in an agricultural field in on Rice Ave in Oxnard. These crops will be picked from November through March. Oxnard, California, November 14, 2020. (Katherine Contreras / News Road)

Social distancing in transportation was also mismanaged. Companies who house their laborers are responsible for getting them to and from the fields by shuttle or bus. These vehicles lack proper separation, putting everyone being transported and the drivers themselves at risk. In fact, Leodegario Chavez Alvarado, a driver in Santa Maria died from COVID-19 in July after an outbreak hit the locations Alco Harvesting was using for housing. As he was staying in Alco’s housing and driving the laborers, it’s more than probable that he contracted COVID-19. An investigation after his death revealed that there were at least eight other infections and mass testing began.

In the Oxnard outbreak, the employees were H2A recipients – people on a temporary agricultural labor visa. H2A holders are brought to work seasonally and return when the harvest is over. These people are particularly vulnerable according to Mr. Zucker. He explains, “They’re not people from families that have been working here for many years – their employer really controls all of their housing, and so there’s often a big power imbalance. They can sometimes be afraid to report when something happens.” This power imbalance has a lot to do with how the laborers are hired. Most of the time, there is a labor contractor that helps workers at the beginning of the process. From there, H2A workers go to the producing company that employs them. After that, they connect with a distributor company, the products of which we buy from the market. Those distributing the produce don’t always own the land they’re distributing from. It becomes difficult to pinpoint where certain injustices start, further contributing to the fear of the workers. They don’t always know who or where to report what’s happening, especially if they’re only in the area for work and know nothing about the surrounding area or city council resources.

This reluctance to speak up to the authorities or reporters is not new. In the migrant worker community, there has existed a deep mistrust of authorities for decades, especially because many of them are working without documentation or know someone who is undocumented. People who ask questions are seen as suspicious because their ulterior agenda is unknown. To illustrate this, all workers reached out for this article refused to participate in an interview of any sort. The system in place to hire migrant workers only further fuels their fear and aids companies in getting away with injustices.

Workers also haven’t been offered help in the form of a raise or any sort of health-related funding on the chance that they do contract COVID-19. Many jobs gave their employees an additional sum of money during the beginning of the pandemic, and later increased pay. This is not the case for field workers, who are paid as little as $1.90 per each box of produce. Many families are picking fruits and vegetables and are struggling to afford food at markets. Some have gone on strike, but most can’t afford to. If they stop working in order to demand higher pay, they continue to face financial losses until what they’re asking for is met or their employer fires them. Most often, the latter takes place, and heading into the winter season, families simply cannot afford to lose their jobs. This again plays right into the hand of produce companies, who get away with low wages because of the intimidating power structure set in place.

Over the summer, there was a volley of criticism lobbed at Driscoll’s on social media after a petition demanding pay raise reached over 50,000 signatures. Although boycotting companies and refusing to buy the produce they distribute in local grocery stores is important, it’s even more important to continue fighting directly for these people’s rights. When driving to Oxnard or Ventura, it is impossible not to notice those working on the fields, and yet many are still desensitized towards the subject. The fight cannot stop at thanking them on social media. These people that are putting food on tables are not doing it for the greater good of their communities, they’re doing it to survive, and so they have no other choice but to continue working under horrendous conditions. The pursuit of better conditions, better pay, and more regulated workspaces must continue. 

The migrant workers picking our fruits and vegetables are essential to society. Still, the hands that feed us are barely getting by. In order for the impact of worker rights campaigning to be long-lasting, the public must stand in total solidarity with them.

Driscolls did not respond to News Road’s request for comment.