Remarks by Arturo S. Rodriguez, President
United Farm Workers of America
Los Angeles Unified School District board
February 10, 2015—Los Angeles, California
I’m Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers of America.
Thank you board President Vladovic for the privilege of addressing the board; board member Zimmer, for authoring the resolution; and the entire Board of Education for having this important discussion.
When powerful growers bullied farm workers in fields during the ‘60s and ‘70s, Cesar Chavez turned for support to the cities—including Los Angeles. Last October 22nd, Gerawan farm workers appealed to the Los Angeles City Council, to stand with them against bullying in the fields. The council unanimously approved a similar resolution. Today, Gerawan farm workers ask this body to stand with them against bullying in the fields.
A neutral state mediator specifically selected by Gerawan Farming issued a union contract that was approved by the state in 2013. Under terms of that contract, Gerawan already owes its thousands of workers millions of dollars in pay raises and other benefits. The company will owe millions of dollars more over the duration of that contract.
Yet Gerawan fiercely resists its workers at every turn, committing some of the most flagrant labor law violations in California history.
California prosecutors—working for an independent, semi-judicial state agency—have recently issued five damning complaints or indictments against Gerawan following thorough investigations by state agents. The latest complaint, issued in September, alleges (and I’m quoting) that “Gerawan and its supervisors” unlawfully supported workers who “stopped work and engaged in anti-UFW and anti-[state] protests [to promote] decertification [of the UFW]…
“…that Gerawan…coerc[ed] workers into participating in [those] protests”…
“…that Gerawan…intimidat[ed] workers who refused to attend [the company-orchestrated demonstrations]…”
…and that Gerawan also repeatedly engaged in threats, interrogation and surveillance of workers.
The resolution before you is also important because it calls upon your procurement division to ensure that Gerawan is complying with “fair labor practices in the event any contracts with this vendor are brought to the board for approval.”
Gerawan’s money and power—backed by a slick PR campaign orchestrated
from Washington, D.C. by Grover Norquist and the Radical Right—have thus far denied these workers justice in the fields.
That’s why Gerawan workers today have come to L.A., turning to consumers, to the court of public opinion and to this board—asking you to help them win the justice that Gerawan denies.
Today is also 36 years to the day since farm worker striker Rufino Contreras was shot to death on a UFW picket line near El Centro. Please honor Rufino’s sacrifice by standing with the Gerawan farm workers in their fight for justice.
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