| SANTA MARIA – On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will convene a special meeting at the Santa Maria board room at 511 Lakeside Parkway, to discuss a county-wide living wage for farmworkers.
Farmworkers, recognized as essential workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, formed the Alianza Campesina coalition, in partnership with CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) and MICOP (Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project), to demand real change, such as better working conditions and a $26/hour minimum wage. Farmworkers in the Central Coast do some of the most dangerous and deadly jobs in the nation, yet continue to struggle to afford basic living expenses, including rent, food, and medical care. Meanwhile, corporations like Driscoll’s, which profit immensely from the labor of farmworkers, continue to see billions in revenue. The meeting will include a panel discussion on a living wage from 3:00 – 4:30 PM, followed by testimonies from farmworkers and allies from 4:30 – 7:30 PM, urging the Board to take decisive action toward securing a living wage for those who sustain the agricultural industry.
Additionally, Alianza Campesina is hosting a rally that day outside the special meeting to show community support for farmworkers to receive a dignified wage and safe working conditions.
WHO: Alianza Campesina is a committed coalition of farmworkers organizing alongside local nonprofits CAUSE and MICOP, united in their mission to advocate for fair wages and better working conditions in the fields.
WHAT: Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors special meeting on a living wage ordinance. A solidarity rally will be held outside the board room – members of Alianza Campesina will be available to interview on the day of.
WHERE: Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Santa Maria Board Room at the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building (511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria).
WHEN: Tuesday, November 12, 2024. The board meeting will start at 3:00 PM with a panel presentation from both sides. The public comment section will start at 4:30 PM until 7:00 PM.
Alianza Campesina:
Alianza Campesina de la Costa Central (Alianza Campesina) is a partnership between Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE)and the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP). Alianza Campesina works with farm workers across the Central Coast to organize and advocate for workers’ rights and improved working conditions. |
