Support for Eduardo Munoz, H2A Migrant Farmworker
Donation protected
Friends, we need your support. We are raising money to purchase an electric wheelchair and living expenses for Eduardo Munoz. Eduardo is a Washington State H-2A migrant farmworker, husband, and father of three children who has dedicated years of work bringing in our local food crops. In October, Eduardo contracted COVID-19 while working and living at his employer housing. He was admitted into the hospital after experiencing a high fever and stroke symptoms, then later transferred to Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane, where he underwent emergency brain surgery. Doctors were unsure of what had caused his stroke since it’s rare for someone so young (38 years old) to suffer such a severe stroke, his doctors tested him for COVID-19 and found that COVID-19’s pro-thrombotic state caused his stroke. Several surgeries and treatments later, Eduardo continues to suffer from aphasia, and the right side of his body remains paralyzed.
He needs our help. His employer, Washington Fruit who hired him to come into work for their company has not honored his work contract, provided any type of support to him or his family. When Eduardo was admitted into the hospital, Washington Fruit contacted his wife Laura to fly into WA to care for her husband without offering any support. They did NOT provide housing, living expenses during hospitalization, health insurance, no paid emergency leave, or return flights to his home. Eduardo was left in the hands of his wife who had never traveled to Washington and doesn’t speak English.
Latinos En Spokane received Laura’s request for assistance through a friend she made at the hospital. Laura, in a desperate state, could not see her husband who was quarantined and had emergency brain surgery, she had no funds to support her living expenses while in Spokane. With help from Providence, SIRC, and local volunteers we were able to cover her living expenses and provide housing. Latinos En Spokane worked to connect Laura with Northwest Justice for legal representation, guidance from Farmworkers Union, World Relief for visa extensions, L&I, unemployment, accompaniment, and support to navigate their complex case.
The Northwest Justice Project took Eduardo’s case and is now representing him to fight for his worker's compensation and L&I claim with Washington Fruit. L&I ordered Washington Fruit to pay Eduardo, but they protested the department’s decision and are avoiding his pay. While this legal battle continues, we are asking for your support to help raise money for Eduardo and his family. Eduardo urgently needs an electric wheelchair and funding for their living expenses while he recuperates.
As Washingtonians, we need to step up to help essential workers. You see, H-2A migrant Farmworkers provide an essential role in feeding America and our state during this crisis. Our state holds an $8 billion dollar industry that relies on their hands. Migrant farmworkers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to feed our families or maintain our economy. H-2A workers are particularly vulnerable because they live in employer-provided housing, where many workers live in overcrowded small living quarters. Infection diseases, such as COVID-19, can spread like wildfire in these sites. Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable because they have been removed from their support systems, do not speak the language, and are not protected by their employers. In many cases, they are removed if they become ill, sent to the hospital, and left without any help or health insurance. Even though they pay taxes and insurance with their salaries. We depend on them. If they fall ill, we fall ill. Please consider donating to our fundraiser. All proceeds go directly to the Munoz Family.
In solidarity,
Latinos En Spokane
tel: [phone redacted]
email: [email redacted]
www.latinosenspokane.org
He needs our help. His employer, Washington Fruit who hired him to come into work for their company has not honored his work contract, provided any type of support to him or his family. When Eduardo was admitted into the hospital, Washington Fruit contacted his wife Laura to fly into WA to care for her husband without offering any support. They did NOT provide housing, living expenses during hospitalization, health insurance, no paid emergency leave, or return flights to his home. Eduardo was left in the hands of his wife who had never traveled to Washington and doesn’t speak English.
Latinos En Spokane received Laura’s request for assistance through a friend she made at the hospital. Laura, in a desperate state, could not see her husband who was quarantined and had emergency brain surgery, she had no funds to support her living expenses while in Spokane. With help from Providence, SIRC, and local volunteers we were able to cover her living expenses and provide housing. Latinos En Spokane worked to connect Laura with Northwest Justice for legal representation, guidance from Farmworkers Union, World Relief for visa extensions, L&I, unemployment, accompaniment, and support to navigate their complex case.
The Northwest Justice Project took Eduardo’s case and is now representing him to fight for his worker's compensation and L&I claim with Washington Fruit. L&I ordered Washington Fruit to pay Eduardo, but they protested the department’s decision and are avoiding his pay. While this legal battle continues, we are asking for your support to help raise money for Eduardo and his family. Eduardo urgently needs an electric wheelchair and funding for their living expenses while he recuperates.
As Washingtonians, we need to step up to help essential workers. You see, H-2A migrant Farmworkers provide an essential role in feeding America and our state during this crisis. Our state holds an $8 billion dollar industry that relies on their hands. Migrant farmworkers should not have to sacrifice their health and safety to feed our families or maintain our economy. H-2A workers are particularly vulnerable because they live in employer-provided housing, where many workers live in overcrowded small living quarters. Infection diseases, such as COVID-19, can spread like wildfire in these sites. Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable because they have been removed from their support systems, do not speak the language, and are not protected by their employers. In many cases, they are removed if they become ill, sent to the hospital, and left without any help or health insurance. Even though they pay taxes and insurance with their salaries. We depend on them. If they fall ill, we fall ill. Please consider donating to our fundraiser. All proceeds go directly to the Munoz Family.
In solidarity,
Latinos En Spokane
tel: [phone redacted]
email: [email redacted]
www.latinosenspokane.org
Organizer
Jennyfer Mesa
Organizer
Spokane, WA