Gerawan Farming workers protesting at the State Capitol. In October 2012 the union reappeared to impose a contract on Gerawan Farming and its 5,000 employees - without a vote of the workers. But after only one bargaining session, the union disappeared and wasn’t heard from for more than 22 years. The UFW won an election to represent Gerawan Farming Company’s workers in 1992. I’ve been reporting on the Gerawan Farming workers fight against the UFW since 2012. The Gerawan case finally came to an end late last year, which I covered. The union has directly harmed the very farmworkers it is supposed to represent, as was most evident during the harrowing seven-year saga of Gerawan Farming. Yet this hypocritical behavior is not an isolated incident for the UFW. In 2017 the UFW reached a $1.3 million settlement to a former UFW employee who sued them, claiming the union withheld backpay and overtime, in addition to subjecting him to unfair labor practices. However, the union has been exposed conducting some troubling anti-worker actions. There are more than 80,000 farms in California, and the UFW has less than 30 of those under a collective bargaining agreement contract.įounded by activist Cesar Chavez in 1962, the UFW was meant to serve as a voice and advocate for farmworkers. For too many years, the UFW has gotten away with well-documented actions that directly hurt farmworkers. Many will be paying close attention, as will those who care about California’s agricultural community, and the well being of farmworkers. Hopefully, you can find time to pay attention.” Teresa Romero has since taken his place, accompanied by some glowing articles about her.Ĭolumnist Marcos Bretón of the Sacramento Bee said this: “Romero is ready for the fight and has dedicated her life to it. Last fall the United Farm Workers announced that its president, Arturo Rodriguez, would be stepping down after 25 years at the helm of the controversial union.
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