University of California
University of California
7/29/98 -- San Francisco Chronicle
SONOMA COUNTY
North Coast Workers Vote to Join UFW
Wednesday, July 29, 1998
Santa Rosa -- Workers at the largest vegetable grower on California's North Coast voted yesterday to join the United Farm Workers. Workers at the Balletto Ranch harvest, irrigate and box lettuce, zucchini, broccoli and cabbage.
On Friday, workers walked off the job to protest minimum-wage pay, lack of health insurance and 12- to 14-hour workdays. They halted the strike when the company agreed to an election.
The workers voted 69 to 0 for union affiliation, with 21 ballots challenged by the California Agriculture Labor Relations Board. UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said the union hopes to negotiate a contract within a month.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
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