For Release:
November5, 1997
UFW: ALRB chair Stoker should quit, hearings just ‘platform to advance his political aims’
Hearings held around the state this week by Agricultural Labor Relations Board Chairman Mike Stoker are "a platform to advance his personal political ambitions," according to the United Farm Workers of America. The UFW will hold a news conference Wednesday in Salinas calling on Stoker to resign his ALRB post while he runs as a Republican to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Walter Capps (D-Calif.) during a special election in the central coast’s 22nd Congressional District.
Since last spring, Stoker has been using his job as ALRB chairman to raise money from major agricultural interests for a 1998 race against Capps. The UFW says Stoker’s appeal for funds from powerful grower groups is behind his bid to weaken farm labor board regulations protecting farm workers. Agribusiness proposals to cripple pro-worker regulations are the focus of the ALRB hearings Stoker is chairing this week in Indio, Ventura, Monterey and Tulare.
Stoker mailed a June 12 fund raising letter on stationary featuring the state seal and identifying him as ALRB chairman. In his letter, the announced congressional candidate solicited money to help secure "additional contributions from national business and agricultural interests."
"These dog-and-pony show hearings by the ALRB are just an excuse to promote Mike Stoker’s run for Congress, according to the UFW statement. "It is troubling that he is doing agribusiness’ bidding on the ALRB at the same time he seeks further political donations from the industry. But he shouldn’t be allowed to run for political office while the state’s taxpayers are footing the bill."
WHO: UFW Vice President,Efren Barajas, farm worker witnesses who will testify at the ALRB hearings and community activists and elected officials.
WHAT: News conference calling on ALRB Chairman Mike Stoker to resign while he runs for Congress.
WHEN: 12 noon, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1997
WHERE: UFW Salinas office, 14 South Wood Street (near Laurel) in Salinas.
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STATEMENT FROM UNITED FARM WORKERS OF AMERICA AFL-CIO CALLING ON ALRB CHAIRMAN MIKE STOKER TO RESIGN
November 1997
Hearings being held this week by Agricultural Labor Relations Board Chairman Mike Stoker in four rural California communities are nothing more than a platform to advance his personal political ambitions. ALRB Chairman Stoker should resign from his state job while he runs for Congress as a Republican to succeed U.S. Representative Walter Capps, who died suddenly last week.
Congressman Capps’ death means a special election will be called for early next year. If Mike Stoker expects to be a candidate in that race, then he should resign now from the ALRB.
Since last spring, Mr. Stoker has been using his position as chairman of the ALRB to raise campaign funds from powerful agribusiness interests. He mailed out a fund raising letter dated June 12 on stationary with the state seal and identifying him as chairman of the ALRB. In that letter, Mr. Stoker announced he is asking for money "to help us obtain additional contributions from national business and agricultural interests."
At the same time ALRB Chairman Stoker is appealing for money from grower organizations, he is attempting to weaken ALRB regulations protecting the farm workers’ right to organize. The ALRB hearings proposed by Mr. Stoker were called to focus attention on agribusiness proposals to cripple pro-worker regulations such as the access rule. Growers seek to eliminate or severely restrict this 22-year old regulation that grants farm workers the right to speak with union organizers in the fields during non-working hours.
These dog-and-pony show hearings by the ALRB are just an excuse to promote Mike Stoker’s run for Congress. It is troubling that he is doing agribusiness’ bidding on the ALRB at the same time he seeks further political donations from the industry. But he shouldn’t be allowed to run for political office while the state’s taxpayers are footing the bill.
Chairman Stoker has been less than honest in justifying the need for these hearings by the ALRB. He has claimed that a directive from Governor Pete Wilson requires the ALRB to hold hearings on its regulations. A reading of the directive shows that it only calls on all state agencies to conduct a review their regulations. No hearings are required.
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