Posted on 06/28/2011 1:13:38 PM PDT by SmithL
Sacramento, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has until midnight Tuesday to act on a bill that would make it easier for unions to organize farmworkers in California, but growers characterize the legislation as a union power-grab.
The bill would allow farmworkers to organize by signing a petition away from the fields, rather than holding a secret ballot election as they do now.
Unions say the current system leads to intimidation by employers, while farmers say a petition system would make it easier for union organizers to bully workers into joining. Growers and other business groups also say greater unionization in the fields will boost food prices.
Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation four times, but officials with the United Farm Workers union say they believe the so-called card-check bill has a better chance with Brown, a Democrat.
The governor's office declined to comment about when he might act on SB104, sponsored by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. In 1975, during his first term as governor, Brown signed the bill that allowed farmworkers to unionize.
UFW members, union officials and supporters were demonstrating at the Capitol on Tuesday urging Brown to sign the bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Countdown to the $11 tomato.
At that price...rotten tomatoes. Nobody would buy them. What is minimum wage? ZERO when you're unemployed with no market for your overpriced skills.
robots to replace illegals.
Oh, sure....easy for you. You just conger up some tomatoes. But what about us non-magicians?
Absolutely BRILLIANT solution.
We aren't allowed to even confirm the identity of a CA voter before he casts a secret ballot, in an effort to ensure the integrity and legality of that vote, because it's labeled "intimidation."
Yet, they claim knowing how individual workers are voting on unionization does not carry threat of intimidation by backers!
The secret ballot is the only way to protect workers.
Card check ensures thugocracy.
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