The employees of Gerawan Farming have waited five years for their votes to be counted. Two weeks ago their ballots were counted and the employees overwhelmingly rejected the UFW – by a 5 to 1 margin. Final results being 1,098 “No Union,” and 197 for the UFW.
The California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) certified those votes determining that the “United Farm Workers of America (thereby) lost its prior status as the exclusive representatives of the employees.”
George Radanovich, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association, enthusiastically welcomed today’s decision, offering, “The steadfast determination of the employees, and their employer, in the defense of their right to choose and have their voices count led to this correct and fair outcome, favoring worker choice over the unjust desire to undermine and disregard the will of the farmworker electorate. Today, the ALRB made the correct decision to decertify the UFW and respect the employee’s decision.”
Radanovich concluded, “We hope this serves as a signal to lawmakers and bureaucratic agencies to work to put protection of free choice and due process at the forefront of future legislative and rule-making efforts.”
For more information:
George Radanovich
California Fresh Fruit Association
Tel: +1 (202) 841-3555
gradanovich@cafreshfruit.com
www.cafreshfruit.com