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Voice of the Fields California
March 2021
FREE
COVID-19 UPDATES
Vaccines Increase, Infections Decline
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ACCINATIONS IN CALIFORNIA appear to be working to reduce the threat of COVID-19. Although the vaccine rollout is slow-moving in some parts of California, the state is seeing promising results already. We are seeing a gradual decline in positive cases and hospitalizations, as well as COVID-related deaths. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that California’s numbers are still quite high. Millions of people throughout the state are currently infected and hundreds of deaths occur each day. This means we can be excited that vaccines are working while still following health protocols until the majority of the population is vaccinated. Medical experts estimate that about 85 percent of the population will need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity, where disease rates will drop off because so many people are immune to the virus after receiving the vaccine. Going forward, state officials and local leaders encourage all eligible Californians to get the vaccine when their tier arrives to
get the state back to normal, children back to school, and people back to work as quickly as possible. Over the course of the last year, research revealed that underserved communities were hit hardest by the pandemic, especially California Latinos. Governor Gavin Newsom reported that nearly 50% of COVID deaths in the state were among Latinos. Underserved communities also include low-income families and people of color who are much more likely to suffer the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. To address these disparities, California created the Blueprint For a Safer Economy. This plan now includes a commitment to set aside 40 percent of the state’s vaccine doses to the most impacted communities. In addition to more vaccine availability, the state is also making efforts to provide mobile clinics and easy-to-access vaccine sites for essential workers like farmworkers, who may not have time or transportation to get to a vaccine site. Farmworkers are currently eligible to receive
Housing is Key
and economic hardship. The state implemented the Housing is Key program to give California residents support so that they do not lose their homes or experience eviction as a result of pandemic-related money troubles. If you’ve experienced issues with paying rent or mortgage payments because of COVID-19, visit the Housing is Key website: landlordtenant.dre.ca.gov **View the website in Spanish by clicking the drop-down menu “Select Language” in the upper-right hand side of the screen. Then select “Spanish.” Many pages of this website also offer an option to view the information in Spanish without having to change the language.
At the end of January, California passed a law that provides renters, homeowners, and small landlords with relief for those affected by COVID-19. During the pandemic, it is not uncommon for people to miss their rent and mortgage payments as a result of job loss, unemployment, Don’t forget, California’s Housing for the Harvest program offers hotel rooms for farmworkers quarantining during COVID-19 FOR FREE. If you need to quarantine because you tested positive for COVID-19 OR because someone you live with tested positive, you qualify for this program. In addition to a hotel room, farmworkers also receive free transportation to and from work, free meals, and some even include economic relief. Learn more by visiting the California COVID-19 website: English: covid19.ca.gov/housing-for-agricultural-workers/ Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/housing-for-agricultural-workers/
Hero Pay Aside from healthcare workers, essential workers are among those at highest risk of contracting COVID-19 based on their exposure to the public and coworkers every day. Nevertheless, communities depend on essential workers to sustain everyone’s livelihood for food, electricity, running water, healthcare services, and many other basic needs. Many cities throughout California recognize
Volume 31, Number 3 the vaccine in California. In places like Coachella Valley, health officials are bringing vaccines directly to farmworkers through mobile and popup clinics. More places across California are expected to follow the same model and bring the vaccine directly to farmworkers. Schedule your vaccine appointment today: Go to myturn.ca.gov or call (833) 422-4255. **The website and hotline are both available in English and Spanish. Important things to remember about the vaccine:
It’s FREE You will NOT be asked about your immigration status n Immigration enforcement officials will NOT be present at vaccine sites n Getting the vaccine is NOT a public charge For more information about vaccines, what they do, and common myths about them, visit California’s COVID-19 website: English: covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/#How-vaccineswork Spanish: covid19.ca.gov/es/vaccines/ n n
the extra risk that essential workers take on by being employed by this sector and have enacted “hero pay” to provide economic relief. Simply put, hero pay offers some essential workers $4-5 of extra pay per hour that they work. For now, this pay is only for grocery store or pharmacy employees in many cities like Los Angeles and Oakland. But in Coachella, farmworkers also receive an extra $4 per hour in hero pay. If you live in Coachella, employers are mandated by law to provide these extra payments. If you live in Coachella, are a farmworker, and are not receiving hero pay, contact the city at (760) 3983502. Services are available in English and Spanish. Even if you don’t live in Coachella, it’s possible that hero pay will be extended to farmworkers in other California cities. Keep up with the latest city council decisions about hero pay by visiting your city’s website. If you don’t know your city’s website link, simply search for it online. For instance, if you live in Oakland, type “City of Oakland” into your search engine and the city’s website should be first on your list of websites to select. Visit the website and search for information about hero pay by using the search function or by calling the city offices directly using the number listed.
César Chávez and Farmworker Rights ARCH 31, 2021 IS CÉSAR CHÁVEZ DAY, a federal commemorative holiday celebrating Chávez’s contribution to workers’ rights, particularly for farmworkers. From an early age, Chávez worked as a farmworker and witnessed firsthand the changes that needed to be made to improve working and living conditions for agriculture workers. After serving in the U.S. Navy for two years, he continued working as a farmworker and later became a community organizer in San Jose, advocating for labor rights in California. He sought to improve minimum wage laws and employment benefits that were not offered to farmworkers at that time. With the help of fellow organizers like Dolores Huerta, Chávez and other activists changed the course of California’s labor laws and gave farmworkers higher pay, the right to organize, and highlighted other issues they face like exposure to poisonous pesticides. Despite his death in 1993, Chávez’s legacy of expanding farmworker rights lives on in California. Elected leaders in the state continue to introduce policies that would broaden farmworker rights today, and many of them have César Chávez to thank for laying the foundation. n AB 857: Mandates improvement in farmworker Expanding working and living conditions, as well as employee benefits. This bill mandates paid leave, Farmworker Rights tenancy rights for renters, and lighting requireCalifornia legislators recently introduced ments. several policies that would increase labor rights for farmworkers. The truth is, these laws may not be passed, or some might be while others fail. Whatever happens, we have César Chávez and his organizers to thank for creating a framework that allows lawmakers to expand labor rights even further. Below are some policies in California that were recently proposed. n AB 73: Calls for increased safety in the workplace. For example, employers would be required to provide N95 masks to farmworkers dealing with wildfire smoke among other changes. n
AB 654: Requires employers to immediately notify employees of COVID-19 outbreaks through multiple different platforms (online and in-person).
Wednesday 10am Voice of the Fields California Circulation: 45,000 copies
www.LaCooperativa.org Published monthly by: La Cooperativa Campesina de California 1107 9th Street, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95814 This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner. Content produced by ALZA Strategies, a full-service strategy firm that offers tise into the growing Latino market.
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AB 941: Institutes farmworker resource centers across California that would assist with education, resources, and other services for agricultural workers.
Farmworkers Who Spoke Up, and Won In one of Southern California’s strawberry farms, Rancho Laguna Farms, over 200 farmworkers recently filed suit for unfair labor practices against their employer. After advocating for better pay, the farmworkers alleged that their employer used retaliation and intimidation tactics to stop their efforts by threatening to call immigration and law enforcement officials, and by firing employees. In response, the farmworkers filed a lawsuit with the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) since their employers’ actions were against the law. Rancho Laguna Farms announced at the end of February that it would pay $30,000 to its employees for their economic losses as a result of being fired and retaliated against. As a California farmworker, it’s important to know your rights so that if they’re violated, you can take steps to file a claim or a lawsuit, if needed. To learn more about your rights and how to file a complaint, visit the Rights of Farmworkers in California on our website at: www.lacooperativa.org/rightsfarmworkers-california-3/
NEW Tax Credit
TAXES, TAXES, TAXES YOU MUST FILE YOUR TAXES BY APRIL 15, 2021.
Everything You Need to Know About Paying Taxes
Let’s be honest, taxes can be extremely confusing. What forms should I use? When is my deadline to file and pay? Can I call someone to help me? All of these questions are common among everyone living in the United States and paying taxes. It’s a very complicated process, but luckily, there are a lot of resources available to make things easier. The ongoing pandemic has closed down some offices that were offering in-person help with filing taxes, but there are still options available. You can visit the IRS website help page which includes a huge list of common questions among taxpayers. English: www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance Spanish: www.irs.gov/es/help/telephoneassistance If you’d rather speak with an IRS agent directly, call (800) 829-1040 for help in English. For assistance in Spanish, call (800) 829-1040. Their hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Agents can help you directly or check to see if there are any Taxpayer Assistance Centers in your area where you can get in-person help filing your taxes. The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help, and a provider may be available in your area. Visit their website and type in your zip code to locate a provider near you. www.ftb.ca.gov/help/free-tax-help/VITA_Locator/. You can also call (800) 906-9887 to find a site near you: English: www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance Spanish: www.irs.gov/es/help/telephoneassistance The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) put together an informational sheet with common questions about federal income tax and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) withholding for foreign agricultural workers with an H-2A visa. Visit the sheet in English or Spanish for more information about how to file taxes if you’re an H-2A worker. English: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5144.pdf Spanish: www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5144sp.pdf
You may qualify for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) if you work and have low income. This tax credit is now available to taxpayers who do NOT have a Social Security number but do have a Taxpayer Identification Number. If you are eligible for CalEITC, you can claim the credit on your 2020 individual tax returns which are filed this year, 2021. You may also qualify for the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) if you have a child under the age of six and also qualify for the CalEITC. Both of these state credits can give you hundreds of dollars. For more information on your eligibility, visit the Franchise Tax Board website: n English: www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/california-earned-income-tax-credit.html n Spanish: www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/credits/california-earned-income-tax-credit-es.html