Sacramento Bee Opinion piece: Grover Norquist’s fingerprints

Sacramento Bee Opinion piece: Grover Norquist’s fingerprints

Re “UFW, labor board are hurting workers” (Viewpoints, Oct. 20): The Bee noted Matt Patterson and his Center for Worker Freedom are affiliated with Americans for Tax Reform. Both groups are controlled by radical right icon Grover Norquist.

They do slick PR supporting giant Gerawan Farming, claiming the Agricultural Labor Relations Board is biased toward United Farm Workers. Yet no proof of this claim is offered, except their opinion.

Patterson cited a Fresno judge who in 2013 said the ALRB and UFW are “in cahoots,” his opinion. Patterson didn’t reveal the same judge issued two court orders prohibiting Gerawan from coercing workers into signing petitions to get rid of the union.

A hearing is underway before an administrative judge over five complaints accusing Gerawan of flagrant violations of the law. Gerawan’s bias claim is like someone accused of a crime who criticizes the district attorney for being biased towards victims.

SUPERVISOR PHIL SERNA, SACRAMENTO