Tuesday, July 7, 1998: 2 p.m. & 6 p.m.
UFW to announce $500,000 going to 1,000 berry workers, many from Coastal Berry Co., for settlement of federal class action suit
Roughly 1,000 strawberry workers, including many employed at Coastal Berry Co., will receive $500,000 Tuesday for settlement of a 1997 federal class action lawsuit charging their former employer with making them labor "off the clock" without pay.
The suit was filed on Feb. 11, 1998 in San Jose federal court by an employee rights law firm against Gargiulo Inc. Strawberry workers at Gargiulo brought the allegations to light by sharing information with organizers for the United Farm Workers, which referred them to the national employee rights law firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Gargiulo agreed to settle the lawsuit in June 1997.
UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and strawberry worker plaintiff Jose Rojas will announce plans for distribution of checks totalling $500,000 at a 2 p.m. news conference on Tuesday in Watsonville. Berry workers will receive their checks at 6 p.m.
All of the roughly 1,000 beneficiaries of the settlement worked for Gargiulo. About half are still employed by its successor company, Coastal Berry Co.
Who: UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, plaintiff Jose Rojas and hundreds of strawberry workers.
What: Distribution of $500,000 in checks for settlement of a federal class action suit alleging berry workers for the former Gargiulo company were made to labor "off the clock" without pay.
When: 2 p.m. news conference and 6 p.m. distribution of checks on Tuesday, July 7, 1998.
Where: 2 p.m. announcement at UFW office, 18 West Lake (behind Main St.) in Watsonville; 6 p.m. check distribution at Watsonville Community Center, 120 – 2nd St., 1 1/2 blocks west of Main St.
Also, beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday Coastal Berry workers will march from the UFW office at 18 West Lake to a vigil at the company’s Watsonville cooler, 350 West Beach Ave. (at Rodriguez St.), where they will urge peace in the fields.
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