The State - News from Oct. 24, 1985

A group of 88 Kern County farm workers has filed a claim for lost pay during last summer’s watermelon recall, even though laborers were left out of legislation guaranteeing compensation. A bill by Assembylman Norm Waters (D-Plymouth) that has been signed by Gov. George Deukmejian promises reimbursement to growers, shippers, brokers and retailers who were hurt financially by the Fourth of July weekend recall of aldicarb-tainted melons. “The legislation is very specific about who can be compensated, and it doesn’t mention farm workers,” said Richard Godegast of the state Board of Control, which has received more than 150 recall-related claims. That could be corrected under a new bill by Waters seeking $8 million from the state’s general fund to cover losses on untainted watermelons. Kern County supervisors referred the workers’ claim to the county counsel for review.