FRESNO (KMJ) — The United Farm Workers is encouraging the public to send holiday greetings to Gerawan Farming.
In a post on its website (click here), the UFW tells the Central Valley based company “don’t be a Scrooge this Christmas” and asks the firm to abandon its fight against the rights of workers.
It comes after a California Supreme Court decision in November, upholding the Mandatory Mediation law which orders unions and companies to reach a contract decision if the two sides are not moving forward in negotiations. Gerawan Farming later announced plans to appeal that to the US Supreme Court.
The UFW does not have to represent the site’s workers, but Gerawan Farming said its employees are not being allowed to revoke union involvement as the Agricultural Labor Relations Board is not letting them do so.
“We’ve reminded our employees that nothing in that California Supreme Court decision strips them of the right to decide whether that union can represent them,” explained Dan Gerawan.
“The majority of our employees asked for the right to make that decision themselves, and an election was held.”
However, the United Farm Workers’ post cites a Gerawan Farming worker who is looking forward to the contract.
“Our employer has been fighting this law to escape implementing the union contract we’ve been pushing for. This decision was something for us to celebrate,” wrote Agustin Garcia on the UFW’s website.
Next to that post is a form to send a holiday message to Gerawan Farming, appealing for a fresh start to the new year.
Listen to the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
