Statement by Arturo Rodriguez,
UFW President/UFW Foundation Board Chair
to Workers at Citrus Freeze Meetings
February 7 – 8, 2007
Good evening. I want to thank everyone for coming to this meeting. I know the citrus freeze has hit your families hard, and I appreciate you giving us your time.
First and foremost, I want to tell each of you – the UFW Foundation is on your side and will work to improve the situations the freeze brought to you and your families.
Tonight is about discussing what needs to be done to make that happen.
In 1998, a freeze hit the San Joaquin Valley. It devastated farm-working families then just as last month’s freeze has affected all of you.
How many of you were living and working in the San Joaquin Valley during the 1998 freeze? Things were different in 1998. Believe it or not, it was harder then than it is now. In fact, we had to fight just to have farm workers recognized as part of those suffering from the impacts of the freeze.
We fought hard to get that recognition, but in the end, we got it. It took three months, but we did it.
It was the first time in history that farm workers received government relief after a natural disaster.
We also worked to help farm workers and their families. We distributed food commodities to approximately 12,000 families per month, and assisted over 800 freeze victims in securing aid from FEMA, disaster unemployment assistance, DUA and other public agencies. We helped tens of thousands of citrus freeze workers with such assistance.
The impacts this year’s freeze has had upon the San Joaquin Valley has made it clear that last month’s freezing temperatures make this situation equal, if not worse, than what we dealt with in 1998.
The positive thing about this year’s situation is how much different the government is responding. This time, the Governor issued a state of emergency—including for farm workers—within the first two weeks. They knew from our work nine years ago, that the UFW Foundation would not tolerate any one taking too long to get things done.
We are working very closely with the Governor’s office this time around. In fact, Governor Schwarzenegger has declared the UFW Foundation as a leading organization in the citrus freeze efforts.
Our plan to help you and your families is as follows.
Tonight, we introduced a number of people who work for organizations that can make change happen.
They came here tonight to listen to you.
It’s your turn to tell them and me what you know needs to happen to improve your situations.
Who here has tried to apply for relief assistance because of the impact the freeze disaster has had on your families? Please raise your hands.
Of those, how many of you were put on waiting lists or given long-wait periods?
I’m here to tell you – you are not just a number on a list and your families – they matter.
It’s time to organize. This meeting is the first step.
We are working on coordinating committees in all freeze-affected communities to help us work with families to further determine their needs. Then we’ll combine what we learn from you tonight and from those families, and try to get those needs done.
The UFW Foundation understands that many of you are without jobs now. We also know that with or without a job – the bills still need to be paid, right? Rent or mortgages and utilities…
Thousands of you need financial assistance to buy the basics like diapers for your babies or food for your families. How many of you could use such help?
I am proud to announce that this Saturday we are holding our first citrus-freeze relief food drive at noon right here in Tulare County! Talk to Lupe Larios for more information.
The only way we can make change happen is by organizing together. Don’t you think we have a better chance of being heard if we organize together? I ask you to please make tonight a learning experience for us … help us understand what you know needs to be done.
Si Puede? Si Se Puede!