UFW faces labor complaint

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/15/5 | Rachel Osterman

[SmithL]

The United Farm Workers was cited for refusing to bargain in good faith during its stalled contract negotiations with E&J Gallo Winery, according to a complaint issued Tuesday by lawyers for the state Agricultural Labor Relations Board.

The complaint, which also accuses the UFW of breaking an agreement not to negotiate in the media, came the same day that the union announced a nationwide boycott against the giant winemaker. More than 300 farmworkers, union activists, religious leaders and others were on hand in San Francisco on Tuesday to announce the boycott, the UFW said.

Despite the timing, ALRB officials said it was only a coincidence that the complaint was issued Tuesday, saying agency attorneys were responding to a charge filed by Gallo in November 2004.

Based on the investigation, "we had no choice" but to issue the complaint, said ALRB general counsel Norma Turner.

The company filed the charge about three months after the last round of bargaining talks broke down in August.

"It clearly shows that the union has not bargained in good faith and confirms that Gallo is doing everything it possibly can to get a new contract and get this resolved," said Gallo spokesman John Segale.

[SmithL]

Whine before its time.

[GSlob]

Well, the quality of Gallo's stuff is such [to my taste, at least] that I have been avoiding [boycotting?] it regardless.

[Ron in Acreage]

I enjoyed a nice E&J bottle of wine this weekend. I think i'll have 2 this weekend.

[Ron in Acreage]

My wine taste is not very sophisticated to some. I drink what I think tastes good. Imagine that!

[GSlob]

And so do I. That's why I avoid Gallo, having tried a few of their products.

[rahbert]

you mean you don't drink wine that travels to the bottler
in tanker trucks ;-) ?

[flashbunny]

Then you should really try some better wine!

[GSlob]

"you mean you don't drink wine that travels to the bottler in tanker trucks ;-)" Well, I might taste it, and will spit it out if I do not like the stuff, but that's as far as I'd go.
Once, in my grad schools days, one of my fellow grad students [the guy had a stainless stomach. IIRC, there are only two omnivorous animals, the bear and the pig, and he did not resemble a bear] - so, he bought two bottles of some "chateau" for $2.50 apiece, for he had read somewhere that "chateau" is a French wine word and the some French wines are in high repute [indeed, they are, but not for 2.50]. Well, even he could not finish the first bottle. So I took pity at him [a completely wasted effort, it turned out] and got him to buy "Prunier 20" [20yrs old cognac from one of the minor houses]. Well, he liked it, bought another bottle and took it to a family wedding of his - where they sipped it between beers!

[bpjam]

Can somebody explain why there are 'religious leaders' attending a boycott over a union contract? Are religious people supposed to be staying the hell out of politics?

[Bubba]

Well that does it!

Back to the Scotch & Dr.Pepper

[SmithL]

Back to the Scotch & Dr.Pepper

Yuck! I'd rather drink Thunderbird.

[rahbert]

This was in Texas, right? ;-)

[GSlob]

The beer accident happened in Bucks county, PA.