Florida's Senate has passed a bill prohibiting local jurisdictions from enacting measures to protect workers from heat exposure, a decision that could endanger the lives of farmworkers across the state.
Florida's new legislation bans local protections for farmworkers against heat, including access to water, shade, and breaks.
The Fair Food Program (FFP) offers a beacon of hope with its strong, legally binding heat protocols, expanding to protect workers in 25 states.
Despite federal inaction, the FFP's success showcases a model for worker-driven social responsibility, gaining traction in various industries.
Key quote:
"We as workers can't afford to wait for the Florida legislature to find its conscience."
— Gerardo Reyes Chavez, former farmworker and organizer with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Why this matters:
Several states are considering legislation that would exempt agricultural employers from new regulations designed to protect farmworkers from extreme heat. This pushback comes at a time when climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and severe, posing increased risks to those working in the fields.
Two new studies show that low-income communities and people of color experienced greater heat exposure in 97 percent of cities analyzed, as well as higher hospitalization rates when smog and heatwaves occurred at the same time.
