FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 1998
Workers at Largest North Coast Vegetable Farm Vote Overwhelmingly for UFW
Concerned about pay, working conditions and health care, Balletto workers vote to join together in a union
Santa Rosa, July 28, 1998 C Workers for Balletto Farms, the largest vegetable grower on California=s North Coast, voted to join the United Farm Workers Tuesday. Workers voted 69 to 0 for the UFW, with 21 challenged ballots.
The workers cultivate and harvest, lettuces, squash and wine grapes and other specialty row crops at ranches near Santa Rosa, just north of the Bay Area. They went on strike last Friday over several issues, including sunrise-to-sunset workdays for poverty pay, inaccessible health care and a lack of respect for their work.
Workers returned to the fields Saturday after the company agreed to a union election and to negotiate a contract in good faith if the union was certified by the ALRB.
ABalletto workers, free to make a choice, voted for a union and a real voice to improve their lives,@ UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said. ANow we=ll begin negotiations with the company on the contract.@
Balletto workers, free to make a choice, voted for a union and a real voice to improve their lives,@ UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said. ANow we=ll begin negotiations with the company on the contract.@
The effort by Belletto workers is an indication of the UFW=s renewed activity in the central and north coast areas. In addition to representing Gallo Sanoma Winery workers in Sanoma County, the UFW is involved in an effort by strawberry workers in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to organize a union.
A contract with the largest grower of organic strawberries was signed earlier this year, and the union also represents several thousand workers in the central and north coast areas who produce vegetables, mushrooms, flowers and grapes.
The victory by Balletto workers represents the 16th straight win by the UFW since 1994. Since that year, workers have won 18 new contracts with the union.