A Big Win for Farm Workers
In a surprise move that left the United Farm Workers (UFW) and other labor, immigrant and human rights groups ecstatic, California Governor Gray Davis yesterday signed two bills making California farm workers the only private sector employees in the country guaranteed mediation in first contract campaigns. Unable to prevent the bills from passing the State Legislature (see WIT for Aug. 6, 2002), and confronted with massive opposition to the legislation by growers? organizations, Davis was widely expected to veto the bills despite having negotiated toned down versions with the UFW and Democratic legislators (see WIT for Aug. 26, 2002). The new laws guarantee that for the next five years, farm workers who have voted for union representation will be able to invoke mandatory mediation---instead of the mandatory binding arbitration originally sought---if their employers attempt to stonewall in negotiations for a first contract.