Farm workers plan to visit Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Salinas, seeking answers for his refusal to support farm labor bill
Salinas, CA − Dozens of farm workers are planning to pay a visit to California Assemblyman Luis Alejo at his office district in Salinas, 100 W. Alisal St., Thursday at 1:30 p.m. The delegation of farm workers wants Alejo to explain why he refused to support legislation that would have empowered the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to enforce collective bargaining laws in cases where employers refuse to negotiate with farm workers seeking to renew their union contracts.
Alejo refused to cast a vote for the Senate Bill 25, authored by Senate’s President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. The bill was being considered in the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee last Wednesday but failed by one vote.
In 2002, California’s Legislature passed the binding mediation law for first contracts. The binding mediation law was meant to prevent decades-long of legal maneuvering and delay of first contracts following secret ballot elections won by farm workers. SB 25 would extend binding mediation to subsequent contracts.
"The Agricultural Labor Relations Act was enacted to encourage collective bargaining following secret ballot elections," said United Farm Workers Vice President Armando Elenes. "SB 25 honors the results of secret ballot elections by allowing for binding mediation to resolve collective bargaining disputes for the duration of the union’s certification following a secret ballot election."
The farm worker delegation hopes to persuade Alejo to support the bill, which is expected to be reconsidered in Assembly Labor and Employment Committee next week.
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