FIFTEENTH Farmworker Death from Heatstroke
August 12, 2008
Cross-posted from CtWconnect; by Jason Lefkowitz
The toll has increased yet again:
BAKERSFIELD — Maria de Jesus Alvarez, 63 has become the latest victim of this summer’s deadly heat.
Alvarez had been picking table grapes for Anthony Vineyards and was employed through farm labor contractor Manuel Torres during the afternoon of July 15. She began feeling ill and went home. According to witnesses, she was working in a crew of 150 workers and they had no shade nor had they received training in heat stroke prevention and precautions as mandated by state law…