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Farmworkers bill passes legislature, heads to Gov. Newsom's desk

Farmworkers bill passes legislature, heads to Gov. Newsom's desk
FORECAST COMING UP IN 10 MINUTES. BACK TO YOU. BRANDI: LAWMAKERS ARE SCRAMBLING AT THE CAPITAL TO GET LEGISLATION ON THE Z. >> THESE ARE THE SAME FARMWORKERS THAT MARCH TO THE CAPITAL. YOU CAN SEE HERE THEY HAVE GOT A TABLE SET UP WITH CANDLES AND PAINTINGS AND WORKERS KEEPING THIS AROUND-THE-CLOCK VIGIL. THEY SAY THEY WILL BE HERE UNTIL THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL THAT WILL GIVE FARMERS FLEXIBILITY WITH VOTING. GOVERNOR NEWSOM’S OFFICE INDICATED VER THE WEEKEND THAT HE WAS INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH THE FARMWORKERS ON A SOLUTION THAT SAID HE COULDN’T WORK WITH THE BILL THE WAY IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT. THE GOVERNOR HAD CONCERNS WITH AND I TESTED MAIL AND I TESTED MAIL IN ELECTION PROCESS THAT HE SAID LEFT CRITICAL PROVISIONS. THE LEGISLATURE DID CLEAR THE BILL LAST NIGHT AND IT IS ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK AWAITING A SIGNATURE. SUPPORTERS WALKED SOME 300 MILES TO THE CAPITAL SAY THEY WILL BE HERE UNTIL IT IS SIGNED. >> WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEIR RIGHT WHICH WOULD GIVE THEM REPRESENTATION IN AN ELECTION THAT IS FAIR. HAVING DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS THAT. >> SENATE REPUBLICANS SENT A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ARGUING THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CURRENT SYSTEM OF UNION ELECTIONS. THEY ARGUED THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WHERE A UNION REPRESENTATIVE CAN HELP A WORKER FILL OUT A CARD COULD BE FRAUGHT WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRICKERY AND INTIMIDATION. FARM WORKERS SAID THEY WOULD REMAIN OUT
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Farmworkers bill passes legislature, heads to Gov. Newsom's desk
The farmworkers bill aimed to give farm workers more flexibility when it comes to voting in union elections passed the state legislature Monday. “I applaud my colleague Assemblymember Mark Stone for working diligently to ensure our essential farmworkers have the ability to vote in union elections without fear of intimidation or deportation,” said state Senator Maria Elena Durazo in a press release. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office indicated over the weekend that he was interested in working with farm workers on a solution but could not sign the bill in its current form. The governor had concerns with an untested mail-in election process that he said, “lacked critical provisions to protect the integrity of the election.” | MORE | Why marching California farmworkers want Gov. Newsom to sign union voting rights bill AB 2183Senate Republicans sent a letter to the governor arguing there is nothing wrong with the current system of union elections. They claimed the proposed method where a union representative can help a worker fill out a card could be "fraught with opportunities for trickery" and intimidation. Farmworkers began a vigil outside the state Capitol and said they will stay there until the bill is signed.

The farmworkers bill aimed to give farm workers more flexibility when it comes to voting in union elections passed the state legislature Monday.

“I applaud my colleague Assemblymember Mark Stone for working diligently to ensure our essential farmworkers have the ability to vote in union elections without fear of intimidation or deportation,” said state Senator Maria Elena Durazo in a press release.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office indicated over the weekend that he was interested in working with farm workers on a solution but could not sign the bill in its current form. The governor had concerns with an untested mail-in election process that he said, “lacked critical provisions to protect the integrity of the election.”

| MORE | Why marching California farmworkers want Gov. Newsom to sign union voting rights bill AB 2183

Senate Republicans sent a letter to the governor arguing there is nothing wrong with the current system of union elections. They claimed the proposed method where a union representative can help a worker fill out a card could be "fraught with opportunities for trickery" and intimidation.

Farmworkers began a vigil outside the state Capitol and said they will stay there until the bill is signed.