California Governor Jerry Brown May Soon Sign A Bill Allowing Farm Workers To Form Unions

[Omaha Steve]

FULL title: California Governor Jerry Brown May Soon Sign A Bill Allowing Farm Workers To Form Unions Through Majority Sign-up

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1447653

6/23/2011
The United Farm Workers are hoping a California bill allowing farm workers to form unions by majority signup will soon become law. Shawn Hamilton reports.

United Farm Workers and their supporters rallied at California’s state capitol Thursday to persuade Governor Jerry Brown to sign legislation making it easier for farm workers to organize. The author of Senate Bill 104, Sacramento Democrat Darryl Steinberg, told the crowd he was honored to have sponsored The Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act, which he referred to as a civil rights bill. It would simply allow farm workers to protect themselves by having a union. Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, said the large growers who oppose the legislation pretend everything is fine and that they treat the workers well. Rodriguez said they ignore the 16 heat-related deaths that have occurred in the last six years. He said the growers don’t provide enough water, shade, or rest breaks and generally push the workers too hard.

“They’re not machines. They’re human beings and they cannot work like that. That’s why we need fair treatment for farm workers and SB 104 signed by Governor Jerry Brown, so farm workers will have a voice on the job, so they’ll have an opportunity to really control what’s taking place.”

Governor Brown has until June 28th to sign the bill.

[ixion]

1. Now there's a union I can get behind...

Farm Work has been quietly maintained as indentured servitude, and the farm workers will benefit from unionizing, although ultimately it means farm produce will be more expensive.