Governor’s Veto of Bill on Pesticide Warnings

I was disappointed but not surprised to learn that Gov. George Deukmejian vetoed the “field-posting” bill introduced by Sen. Nicholas C. Petris (D-Oakland). The posting bill would have required California growers to post warning signs to protect farm workers from early reentry into pesticide-contaminated fields.

Despite the bill’s passage in both the Assembly and the Senate, the governor exercised his power in favor of certain powerful agribusiness opponents of the bill--the same lobby that contributed so much to his gubernatorial campaign war chest.

It is unfortunate indeed that the historic schism between farm labor forces and agribusiness must stand in the way of a sensible plan designed to protect not only farm workers, but also growers and pesticide applicators from the costly and often tragic consequences of farm worker poisonings.

The governor defended his veto by stating that the posting of the fields would create an array of warning signs that farm workers would ignore because of the sheer quantity of signs. How does this analysis stand in face of the current situation where no warning system is in place?

Monterey County enacted a local posting ordinance in 1981 that has won the support of farm workers, growers, and the pesticide applicators. The Petris bill was modeled after this ordinance--an ordinance used in drafting a statewide posting program in the state of Texas.

While the governor has promoted himself as the “toxic waste warrior,” he has seen fit to exempt pesticides and farm workers from his grand scheme of protection and reform.

The “harvest of shame” is alive and well in California agriculture.

WILLIAM W. MONNING

Salinas