Governor Brown Vetoes Forced Unionization Bill

In a surprise move, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed the California Farm Bill SB-25 on Sunday. The Bill, which had passed both houses of the Legislature, would have made it easier for unions to force farm workers into collective bargaining agreements by essentially abolishing their right to appeal during labor mediation.

The veto is a disaster for the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) and for the United Farm Workers Union (UFW) because it would have given the ALRB more power and would have increased membership for the UFW.

Brown said in a statement released from the governor’s office that contract enforcement and labor election disputes should be “balanced and fair” and that “we should look at the entire process before making further changes.”

This veto means that California farm workers are one step closer to securing their constitutional freedoms of speech and assembly.

Perhaps Governor Brown thinks that this bill is dangerous to farmworkers’ freedoms and to California’s economy.  If so, he should be aware that Gerawan farmworkers are going through a similar situation where they are being forced to unionize.  Gerawan farm workers will address the governor in a press conference on Wednesday at the Raddisson Hotel.