Yountville, Calif.—Farm workers are marching more than five miles on Saturday from the French Laundry restaurant in Yountville to Governor Gavin Newsom’s PlumpJack Winery in Napa. Governor Newsom vetoed UFW-sponsored AB 616, a bill that would make it easier for farm workers to vote in union elections by mail or from their homes, building off of the ways the state of California has made it easier for Californians to vote in elections like last week’s recall election.
Some field workers participating on Saturday had on Wednesday begun a 260-mile, 19-day “March for the Governor’s Signature”—or peregrinacion (pilgrimage)—from rural Tulare County to the state Capitol to convince Newsom to sign AB 616. They are gathering at the French Laundry to seek a meeting with the governor they were denied in early June.
Governor Newsom just benefited from state laws making it easier for Californians to vote. But he doesn’t want farm workers to have the same benefits.
Many have reacted with outrage. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez Tweeted, “I’m truly devastated that @GavinNewsom vetoed the most important union organizing bill of the year.” State Senator Maria Elena Durazo Tweeted,”Extremely disappointed.”
Who: Farm workers, some of whom on Wednesday were marching to Sacramento.
What: Seeking meeting with Governor Newsom and Protesting Newsom’s double standard on making it easier for people to vote.
When: Gather at 1 pm on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 at the French Laundry restaurant; then march to Newsom’s winery, more than five miles away in Napa.
Where: Gather at French Laundry, 6640 Washington St., Yountville, CA 94599; march to PlumpJack Winery, 620 Oakville Cross Rd., Napa, CA 94558.
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