Last week, President of the United Farm Workers (UFW) Arturo S. Rodríguez threatened the Center for Worker Freedom (CWF) with a protest outside of its Washington, DC-based office.

This protest was said to be in response to CWF’s continuing efforts to restore the rights of freedom and speech to farm workers at Gerawan Farming in California, whose votes to decertify the UFW from their workplace were sequestered by the CA’s Agricultural Labor Relations Board. In the Huffington Post, Rodríguez wrote:

“A slick PR campaign by radical right-wing groups based in Washington, D.C., and affiliated with Grover Norquist, who is backed by the Koch brothers, is being orchestrated on Gerawan's behalf. Gerawan workers and their supporters will picket outside Norquist's Washington offices…”

Since the protest announcement, however, it seems their plans have changed.

Rodríguez wrote the protest was to be held the morning of April 7^th – when DC’s City Council was scheduled to discuss a resolution on the Gerawan matter. But, the Council’s resolution discussion has been moved to the morning of April 14^th due to a recess.  

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) has reported that the protest against CWF has also been postponed, but left the date in question.

The more important question, however, is why this California issue is being discussed by DC’s City Council.

On the morning of April 5, CWF reached out to the office of Councilwoman Anita Bonds, supporter of the resolution.  Her Communication Direction David Meadows admitted the resolution would be largely non-bonding, and merely an opportunity for DC Council members to offer their “opinions.” Naturally, the UFW hopes these “opinions” will encourage Gerawan to surrender.

Why would Anita Bonds waste the Council’s time with this pointless resolution? Does the UFW contribute to her campaign? When asked directly by CWF, Meadows pleaded ignorance.

The DC City Council discussion will be held around 10am on April 15^th. Stayed tuned for further details.

*The DC City Council previously wasted time honoring Spider-Man, pictured above.