A Modest Victory
by Fawn Pattison
This
year the NC Legislature passed a small but important piece
of legislation to improve the lives of farmworkers who work
in North Carolina’s fields. As a result,
farmworkers gained an important basic workplace protection
that they sincerely deserve. S 847, “Prevent Agricultural
Pesticide Exposure” will:
- Prohibit retaliation against
workers who report pesticide safety problems on the job
- Require
employers to keep more detailed records of pesticide use.
The
state budget also included $357,055 to improve pesticide
safety programs.
This is important legislation, and those
who worked to pass it should be proud (especially Sen. Charlie
Albertson and Rep. Dan Blue).
Many of you joined Toxic Free
NC and the Farmworker Advocacy Network in pushing for improved
worker protections this year. We are proud of our accomplishments
and grateful for such a strong grassroots voice for farmworkers,
but we still have a long way to go. We look forward to building
on this success together to achieve a more just and sustainable
future for our state, its workers and its residents.
>>Take a moment to thank some of the key players on this
legislation.
>>More
details on what happened at the legislature this year.
Toxic Free News is a publication of
Toxic Free NC
206 New Bern Place, Raleigh, NC 27601, (919) 833-5333, Toll-free
1-877-NO-SPRAY
, http://www.toxicfreenc.org
Mission: Toxic Free NC advocates
for alternatives to toxic pesticides in North Carolina by
empowering people to make sound decisions about their health
and environment.
Staff: Billie
Karel, Program Coordinator; Ana Pardo, Communications Coordinator;
Fawn Pattison, Executive Director; Jean Strandberg, Toxic
Free Kids Intern.
Board of Directors: Colleen
Boudreau, Treasurer; Laxmi Haynes; Mindy Hiteshue; Cathy
Jones; Omar Laínez; Michelle Nowlin, President-Elect;
Annie O'Leary; Katherine M. Shea, President; Allen Spalt,
Immediate Past President.
Emeritus Board Members: Billie Rogers, Jane Sharp MacRae,
Erick Umstead.
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