California is the nation's largest agricultural state. In 2004 its crop sales were $18.1 billion up from $16.9 billion in 2003 (University of California at Davis, http://migration.ucdavis.edu/). By and large, farm workers maintain California's farms.

Monterey County, CA is a rural area with a Latino population of 46.8 percent (US Census 2002). Agricultural work is prevalent among Latino families in the area. Unfortunately, many times Latinos who become injured in the workplace are not provided with the adequate paperwork and information to submit workers' compensation claims.

Or worse yet, the employer might not have workers' compensation coverage at all. Such is the case of Jose Aleman. He was injured at work and needed medical attention. Jose was not able to receive the medical assistance needed because his employer was not covered by workers' compensation. Although it is the law that an employer must have workers' compensation insurance, it is common to hear injured consumers report that their employer did not have coverage.

Promotoras inform about rights and resources

It is crucial for all employees, especially agricultural workers, to be informed about their rights. Some agricultural workers in Monterey County receive information regarding the community services available to them through an outreach effort by local community health workers called "Promotoras." These community health workers go into the communities and onto the fields to educate and share resources. The information provided covers a wide range of health topics including cancer screenings, independent living centers and substance abuse.

Some agricultural workers in the region also receive legal assistance from The Watsonville Law Center (WLC) online at www.communitybridges.org. The WLC serves the low-income, agricultural community, and focuses on providing services related to worker's compensation, consumer fraud, economic justice and barriers to employment.

It is critical for agricultural workers to learn their rights so they can seek out assistance, receive the appropriate care and compensation when they are injured on the job.

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