Center for Worker Freedom sends letter to politicians urging them to restore First Amendment rights to Fresno farm workers

On Tuesday July 29 the Center for Worker Freedom (CWF) delivered a letter to California lawmakers and business leaders traveling in Mexico, including Gov. Jerry Brown and a dozen state representatives and senators.

The letter, signed by CWF Executive Director Matt Patterson and Luis Alvarado of letthevotecount.com, urged the delegation to help Silvia Lopez, a Fresno-area farm worker whose First Amendment freedoms of assembly and speech are being stripped from her by the United Farm Workers (UFW) and the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB).

Ms. Lopez and thousands of her co-workers at Gerawan Farming, Inc. voted in a decertification election last November, but the ALRB is refusing to count the votes.  Meanwhile, the union wants to take 3 percent of their wages in dues, without their consent.

Full text of the letter follows.  CWF is a special project of Americans for Tax Reform.  For more information, contact:

John Kartch

jkartch@atr.org

202-785-0266

 

Dear Representative,

The farm workers of California feed America and drive the industry that makes the Golden State golden.

We know every member of the California delegation is deeply invested in the success of California’s agricultural industry. And we know you are all especially concerned with the safety, freedom and prosperity of California’s agricultural workers.

Therefore we urge you to consider the plight of the Fresno workers at Gerawan Farming, Inc., who are currently locked in a fight for their First Amendment freedoms of assembly and speech. These workers, led by Silvia Lopez, a single mother and 15-year orchard veteran, voted in a decertification election last November.

You see, these workers see no need for the United Farm Workers (UFW) to take three percent of their pay. They have enjoyed above average industry wages and good relationships with management at Gerawan.

The union has done nothing for them to deserve three percent of their earnings; for these workers 3 percent is a significant and indispensable portion of their income.

These workers participated in a decertification election because they wanted their voice to be heard. Unfortunately, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) is stifling that voice, refusing to count the ballots that sit locked in the Board’s office.

You have a unique opportunity to help these workers, to restore their voice, and let them choose for themselves with whom they wish to associate. We urge you to pressure the Board to do the right thing — count the votes at Gerawan.

If the workers have decided for the union, that is their right. But if they voted to decertify that union, that is also their right.

To learn more about Silvia’s story, please go to letthevotecount.com.

Respectfully,

 

Matt Patterson                                                        

Center for Worker Freedom

 

Luis Alvarado

letthevotecount.com