UFW ousted from Napa vineyard

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090430/BUSINESS/904309931/1350?Title=UFW-ousted-from-Napa-vineyard

By Kevin McCallum
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 1:43 p.m.

The United Farm Workers union has been ousted from the first Napa Valley vineyards it successfully unionized more than four decades ago, a move that could further erode the union’s influence in Wine Country.

The state Agricultural Labor Relations Board on Wednesday certified the results of an election removing the UFW from representing workers at Vista Vineyard Management in St. Helena.

Of the 60 workers who voted in the June 2008 election, 39 voted against the union, 18 voted to keep it and three votes were contested, said Sam Turner, the company’s president.

“I’m glad that the workers got to decide for themselves their representation,” Turner said.

Most workers who voted against the union resented paying the UFW 2 percent of their wages, Turner said.

But UFW organizer Casimiro Alvarez said the vote is another example of big wine companies turning to contract labor forces to undermine the union founded by Cesar Chavez in the 1960s.

FULL story at link.

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. We'll see how those workers resent the upcoming 40% loss of pay and loss of benefits

Cutting off the nose to spite the face.

Assholes.

Unless they're planning on switching to another union, they've just fucked themselves in their collective ass.

Have fun trying to wage any kind of grievance from now on, you shitbags.

[thunder rising]

2. A lot of poor people are dead to give them that union...2% huh ... well fuck 'em.

No crying

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Amazing to see how far the UFW has fallen. Never would have happened if Chavez was still with us

Some of the stories circulation about his family are also heartbreaking, if true.

Farm workers need and deserve a true champion. If its not the UFW, then another labor organization needs to step up.