Berkeley urges Gerawan to implement union contract
Berkeley, Calif.—Berkeley city councilmembers, on a unanimous 9-0 vote, passed a resolution Monday night urging giant Gerawan Farming Inc. to refrain from violating state labor laws and to implement a union contract issued by a neutral mediator and approved by the state last year. Action by the City Council followed a suggestion of a lawsuit from a Gerawan attorney if the council approved the resolution.
“We thank the Berkeley City Council for courageously standing with the workers at Gerawan who have been bravely struggling for a union contract that will bring them millions of dollars in pay increases and other benefits,” said UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez. The resolution calls on “Gerawan Farming to meet basic standards of conduct, including refraining from violating state or federal laws such as labor relations laws, anti- discrimination laws, and minimum wage and hour laws, and to immediately implement the union contract issued by the neutral mediator and the state of California.”
An administrative judge with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board on Monday began hearing what could be months of sworn testimony on sweeping indictments from state prosecutors charging Gerawan with multiple, serious and repeated violations of the law aimed at “prevent[ing] the [United Farm Workers] from ever representing its employees under a [union contract]” and at decertifying, or getting rid, of the UFW, according to the ALRB general counsel, which issued the allegations.
Lawyers for Gerawan sent Berkeley Councilmembers Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin and Linda Maio a letter on Sept. 27, citing alleged “defamatory statements” in the proposed council resolution and warning them the “republication of libelous statements, whether in newsletters, press releases, constituent updates, or speeches outside the legislative chamber, is not immunized from liability or shielded by” constitutional guarantees of free speech and debate.
For background on the resolution, see: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2014/09_Sep/City_Council__09-30-2014_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx
– end –