It is clear that the dairy at which the love of my life, Randy Vasquez, died—drowned in a manure pit—was not safe. This is the conclusion from the Department of Labor and Industries of Washington state when it cited Riverview Ranch with three different safety standard violations and issued a $6,800 fine.
Now it is not only clear that the dairy where Randy lost his life is not safe, but the dairy’s appeal of the citations and fine shows a lack of responsibility towards the dairy workers. After suffering the tragic loss of Randy, it feels to me like a slap in the face.
It pains me to know from the investigation by this state agency that a simple fence or a warning sign could have saved Randy’s life. Randy could still be here, with my children and I, if Riverview Ranch had provided him a safe work environment.
It's been almost six months since Randy died, yet there is no day that I don't think about this nightmare. I still think that he will walk through the door calling out, “Babe, I'm home.” I yearn to hear those words from him each day. When my child asks me that if he dies, will he see daddy again, I do not even know how to respond. How can a 4 year old understand death? How can any of us make sense of Randy's death?
Sign Nubia’s petition to Darigold @ http://action.ufw.org/... and ask your friends and family to sign too. The petition will be turned in on September 2.
I recently went through his clothes with the help of his mom, to give some of them away. It was really hard. Little by little, the harsh reality sinks in and it hurts so much that sometimes I feel like giving up. But then I think of my three little ones who need me now more than ever, and those thoughts fade away.
If only Darigold and Riverview Ranch knew and understood for a minute how hard it is to live without Randy, maybe they would take some more precautions and better value the human lives that labor for their farm and corporation. But this hope is very far away from how this employer treats its workers.
How many more have to die or get injured?
How many more have to suffer like Randy did?
When will Darigold hold its member dairies accountable for the safety and well-being of the workers that labor so hard to produce milk and other products that produce the billion dollar revenues they so much care about?
Things need to change, and they need to change now. May the lives and safety of the dairy workers like Randy never be forgotten, because a gallon of milk or a pound of cheese are not worth it.
By Nubia Guajardo, widow of Randy Vasquez
Sign Nubia’s petition to Darigold @ http://action.ufw.org/... and ask your friends and family to sign too. The petition will be turned in on September 2.