In Santa Maria, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors convened with Alianza Campesina to deliberate on establishing dignified wages for local farm workers. Alianza Campesina, a collaborative effort between two non-profit entities, aims to champion the rights of farmworkers, recognized as essential workers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The coalition proposed a minimum wage of $26 an hour for farmworkers, highlighting the financial strains faced by families residing on the Central Coast due to elevated costs of living, including rent, food, and fuel. The advocates emphasized the perilous conditions farmworkers navigate nationally, alongside their struggle to meet basic needs. The session featured a panel on living wages and testimonies from farmworkers and their families, urging the Board to implement measures ensuring a living wage for those pivotal to Santa Barbara County's agricultural sector.
Source: News Channel