Farmworkers Strike for Pandemic Protections

According to the Environmental Working Group, as of mid-July, only eight states have mandatory protections in place for farmworkers, including personal protective equipment, distancing requirements, disinfection, testing, and housing and transportation adjustments. Other states have issued recommendations for these types of protections to stop the spread, but many don’t have any guidance or laws in place to prevent outbreaks and protect workers on the frontlines.

In some places, farmworkers have gone on strike to protest the lack of protections, demanding safer conditions and higher pay. In Yakima County, Washington, hundreds of farmworkers went on strike in May, demanding protective supplies and higher pay. Their collective action prompted a wave of protests throughout the region, with workers walking off their jobs, rallying outside the state capitol, and filing complaints to the Department of Labor and Industries. Workers at