Complaint Filed on Behalf of H2A Workers in Sacramento, Co.

SACRAMENTO     With the assistance of the United Farm Workers, a lawsuit will be filed on behalf of 24 H2A guest workers from Colima, Mexico.

The lawsuit is being filed tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 21 in U.S. District Court for the East District of California against a Galt farm labor contractor for violation of the federal H2A program and state wage and hour laws.

The complaint, to be filed by attorneys from California Rural Legal Assistance and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, seeks unpaid wages, damages for filthy housing, inadequate meals, fraud and breach of contract against Salvador Gonzalez Labor Contractor.

The workers were brought to the area to harvest pears, apples and grapes. They were told they would earn at least $100 per day. However, once they arrived, the conditions they have been forced to work under have been anything but what was promised.

“These workers were promised a safe and legal way to work in the United States through the H2A program. Instead, they have been underfed; housed in filthy, moldy conditions; cheated out of their wages and given work for less than half of the hours promised them,” said Cynthia Rice, CRLA attorney representing some of the plaintiffs. “They paid hundreds of dollars to come here and are now stuck more than 2,000 miles from home and competing amongst themselves for the few hours of work being offered.”

Added Anna Reynoso, UFW director of policy and research for the guest worker program, “This is just another example of how the Department of Labor turns a blind eye to the unscrupulous employers who take advantage of individuals who only want to come here to provide for their families back home.  It’s time the Department of Labor steps up and enforces the laws.”

A press conference will be held Aug. 21 to discuss the details of the complaint.

When: 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 21

Where: 2210 K Street, 2nd floor, Sacramento

Who: CRLA, UFW, and several of the H2A workers

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