Esther Hernandez’ (center) day begins at 4 a.m. She must make her children’s lunches for school and pick up her house before her workday begins at 7. She then works nine-hours-a-day packing grapes in carts with the majority of her workday spent on her knees. Although she is tired, she always tries to spend quality time with her daughters, Erika (left) and Cecilia (right). “I never want to see my girls in the fields,” she said.

Photo: Roberto De La Cruz

Imelda Valdivia packs grapes. Her hands are the tools that guarantee her pay check. For the last few years though, she has suffered from Carpel Tunnel in her right hand. She tried to explain her pain to her supervisors, but they said she still had to keep up with her other coworkers. “My hand was too swollen to work,” she said. “I decided to pick with one hand. Within a week, my good hand was hurt from using it so much.”

Photo: Roberto De La Cruz

Jorge Rodriguez knows firsthand how important it is to have California laws protecting farm workers from heat exposure. Last summer, while working in almonds, he watched many of his coworkers suffer. "There was never water for us," he said. "We could only take breaks when we were told." He remembers people fainting. "They would vomit; they’d pass out and then be able to go home."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Maria Elena Castillo hopes when she has children, she does not have to work in the fields.  She knows how hard it is for her coworkers to balance working in the fields and family life.  "By the end of the day, we are exhausted," she said. "Mothers tell me they have no time or energy to spend with their children.  They only have enough left to feed them and put them to bed."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Alba Castillo (center) is the oldest of her siblings. She graduates high school in one year. She plans on studying to be a medical assistant. While other kids are on summer vacation, Alba helps her mom Zeferina (left) work in the fields.  "The restrooms are the worst," she said. "They don’t clean them.  You just hold it all day instead of use them," she said. "I ended up getting a bladder infection."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Zeferina Castillo takes her daughter Alba (center) to work with her in the fields when she is on summer break from school.  She wants her to see how hard it is and stay in school. "I tell my kids to study hard," she said. "I didn’t come here for an education. I came here only to work.  Alba and Jeymi (right) have the chance to get educated.  I never want to see them in the fields."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Lilia Alvarez’s youth is filled with memories of how hard she worked in the fields, often pushing wheelbarrows that were too heavy for her.  She hurt herself once and reported it to her foreman.  She was ignored.  "The foremen don’t care," she said. "People suffer working in the fields."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

When his wife was sick and needed surgery, Rafael Alvarez was calm when the doctor told him the procedure would cost more than $50,000.  He knew he and his wife were covered by the UFW’s Robert F. Kennedy medical insurance plan. "I have faith in the UFW," he said, "I have seen in my own life how much the union works to help farm workers."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Nicanor Rojas remembers the day he quit his job picking cherries after the foreman yelled and threw fruit at him.  After working all day, the foreman noticed Nicanor had left one cherry on the tree.  After the foreman’s angry reaction over it, Nicanor decided to quit.  "Supervisors always yell at us to show off who is stricter," he said. 

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman
 

Sabino Reboyedo and his wife Anita believe all companies should have union contracts.  After injuring himself while on the job and knowing he was mistreated by the company, Sabino turned to the UFW for help. “Their support has helped me keep moving forward with my life,” he said.

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Hector Carbajal does not like to complain about his job, after all, it is his livelihood.  The one thing he does not like is when he is forced to buy his own work equipment.  “They make us buy our own gloves, glasses and scissors,” he said. “That can cost up to $20. If we refuse to buy it though, they will fire us.”

Photo: Moses Reyes

Adan Ramirez carries much wisdom in his years. He has seen many changes for farm workers over the years.  He says the older he gets the less likely he is to change his beliefs. The one belief he always holds firm – “The farm worker is the most mistreated of all, yet it is the farm worker who feeds the world,” he said. “No one else wants to do this work. Everyone needs us – the entire world needs farm workers.”

Photo: Rona Talcott

Just because Sebastian Gonzalez is yelled at daily by his foreman, doesn’t mean he’ll ever get used to it. “We’ll work nine hours straight and he’ll still yell at us that we’re useless,” he said. Sebastian believes if his company had a union, things would be better.  “People must stand up for their rights and unionize,” he said, “but everyone is afraid to get fired if they do.”

Photo: Moses Reyes

Julieta Reyes says she lives a good life.  Much of it, she says, she owes to the UFW.  Working under a union contract, Julieta is able to make a decent living wage – almost $32,000 a year.  “It’s about more than just the money,” she said. “It’s about being seen as a human being. For decades, people have fought for the union. I thank God I am benefiting from their sacrifices.”

Photo: Rona Talcott

With nearly 30 years of experience working in the fields, Estella Gutierrez knows firsthand the differences between working with or without a union contract. “The difference between the two is huge,” she said. “First of all, we are treated like human beings and not animals. We are also respected by our supervisors. With a union, workers are given a voice and the chance to positively change their lives.” 

Photo: Isela Pena-Rager

Hilario Torres believes in the vision of Cesar Chavez.  Throughout his farm-working years, Hilario devoted a significant portion of his time toward organizing farm workers. “I believe it is necessary to help workers,” he said. “Looking back, I know I made many sacrifices for the union, but I believe that in life, we all need to give of ourselves … just like Cesar did.”

Photo: Isela Pena-Rager

Armando Sanchez has worked 40 years in agriculture. He has been cheated many times by foreman over the years.  “They tell you that they’ll pay you by the number of plants you pick, and then you work your hardest and in the end, they decide to pay you hourly – so you get just eight hours of pay after working so hard.” 

Photo: Isela Pena-Rager

Domingo Ignacio is forced to work up to seven hours straight without breaks.  Making less than $8 an hour is difficult, he says. The hardest part for him, however, is not having any type of medical plan. The last time he was sick, his supervisor accused him of being drunk when he struggled to finish his workday.  “The company doesn’t help us pay for doctor visits,” he said. “On my wages, it’s hard enough to survive as it is.”

Photo: Roberto De La Cruz

Margarita Gonzalez dreads the summer months when she has to work up to nine hours outside in the hot sun.  Despite California laws designed to protect farm workers from heat exposure, Margarita’s experiences reveal the laws are not always enforced. “We sweat a lot and feel like fainting. We want to sit in the shade, but if you sit down, you will get fired.”

Being forced to work on his knees is something Juan Leon says he will never do again. "After working like that for hours, our knees hurt and we had to get up to stretch our legs," he said. "I remember how angry my supervisor was because we stopped working.  I will never again work for that company."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman

Jose Lopez believes that being a farm worker is a very skilled job. In fact, he says most people could not handle the hard work involved. "We work in fields with dangerous pesticides. We work long hours. We work in the heat. The truth is, no one wants this work, but we are the ones working in the fields."

Photo: Jocelyn Sherman