Silvia Hernandez

Authors

Silvia Hernandez
Juana Duque, Florida International University

Files

Description

In this interview Silvia Hernandez describes her work trajectory in the agriculture industry, as well as highlights the harsh labor conditions she and other workers endure. Specifically, Silvia speaks about the consequences of working in the South Florida heat for such prolonged hours every day. She describes how workers in the industry-- herself and her friends included--suffer from heat-induced health issues such as headaches, rashes, and dehydration. Moreover, Silvia provides examples of how the outdoor workers try to care for themselves in the face of a lack of external protections by bringing their own water, Pedialyte, food, and Gatorade. Finally, the interview emphasizes the urgent need to implement a heat standard to provide basic protections for outdoor workers. Silvia describes her own participation in the Que Calor! campaign.

Publication Date

10-19-2023

Publisher

Florida International University

City

Homestead, Florida

Keywords

Florida International University, Miami, Agriculture, Labor, Human Rights, Education, working-conditions, government programs, labor reform, South-Florida, Miami, Pro-human movement

Disciplines

Public Policy | Social Justice

Comments

Video Length: 00:24:58

Biography: Silvia Hernandez is an immigrant woman who works at an outdoor nursery in Homestead, Florida. She is also a member of We Count! and an advocate for outdoor workers’ protections against extreme heat. Silvia has been working in the nursery industry for about 5 years. She is married and supports her 20 years old daughter.

Recommended Citation

Hernandez, Silvia and Duque, Juana, "Silvia Hernandez" (2023). Después del Desierto: An Oral History of Women Agricultural Workers in South Florida. 5.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/we-count-student-oral-histories/5