Albany, NY — The United Farm Workers has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Wafler Farms, an apple producer in upstate New York, for failing to implement the union contract imposed upon it by a New York State appointed arbitrator.
“Every day that goes by without Wafler Farms honoring the collective bargaining agreement reached under the terms of New York State law is a great injustice for the workers at Wafler, without whom the company could not exist,” said UFW Secretary Treasurer Armando Elenes. “Refusing to honor this union contract is denying workers of the higher wages set by this contract. It is denying workers of the grievance process, safer working conditions, and seniority rights set by this contract. It is denying workers of their right to a union, as provided by New York state law. It is illegal and wrong – and we will hold Wafler’s management and ownership accountable.”
The full ULP complaint filed by the UFW can be viewed here.
The UFW has been seeking to negotiate a union contract with Wafler Farms since 2023, when a majority of its workers voted to unionize with the UFW. Workers at Wafler Farms have continued to express concerns about unfair treatment in the workplace, including instances of verbal abuse documented by UFW members and exposed in a now-viral video.
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