A local farm operation is once again being targeted by the United Farm Workers union. The UFW says 35,000 people have submitted their names for an online petition, calling for Giumarra Farms to treat workers "with dignity and respect." However, the petition fails to state any recent labor violations by the vineyard.
15-to-20 UFW and other labor rights groups gathered at Giumarra headquarters Friday in Edison to hand-deliver the worker's rights petition, but the union and its supporters couldn't get their paperwork past the front gate because they didn't have an appointment. The "online signatures" are from what the UFW says are supporters and consumers, asking Giumarra Vineyards to protect workers from heat-related injuries and deaths.
Cal-OSHA fined Giumarra and 10 other agriculture companies across the state in July for violating heat regulation laws. However, a Cal-OSHA spokesman told 17 News Giumarra farms hasn't had any heat-related deaths since they started tracking in 2005. All 10 companies have since corrected the violations, but one worker who has been with Giumarra farms for nearly 25 years says the violations are still there.
"They won't let us drink water by telling us that if we go out and drink water and the boss shows up, he may fire us on the spot so what do you do?" Julio Hernandez explained. "You are obligated to keep working and not go to the restroom or get some water."
Labor rights activist Dolores Huerta signed the petition and also claims workers at Giumarra aren't being treated properly.
"We're very concerned about the way the workers at Giumarra are treated and we hope that they pay attention to these petitions to realize the word is getting out there that their workers are mistreated on the job and they don't pay attention to their grievances and workers are dying out there because they are not getting properly treated for the heat," Huerta said.
There are questions about the reported 35,000 signatures presented on Friday. The petition can't be verified because the "signatures" were obtained online, and only required a name and email address. In addition, the petition against Giumarra fails to provide specifics about exactly which laws have been violated.
Also, It's unclear if a majority of Giumarra farm workers want to be a part of the union. 17 News asked UFW Spokeswoman Maria Muchuca if there are any Giumarra workers wanted to be in the union but are afraid to speak up.
"We know we have their support," Muchuca responed. "We just can't--haven't done anything that we can prove that we have something but we know we have their support and if we had an election today we would win."
Although it was close, workers at Giumarra Farms voted against unionizing in 2005 by 125 votes, but Muchuca claims workers were intimidated back then, and are still being intimidated by vineyard employers.
"Whenever they express that they want to be unionized they are either threatened to be fired or they are fired, or they are abused," Muchuca said.
When asked, Muchuca told 17 News this petition wasn't a tactic to get Giumarra workers in the union.
Giumarra Vineyards released this statement Friday evening:
"As a family run company, we at Giumarra Vineyards have a long history of working side by side every day with our employees and have a great respect and appreciation for the important work they do. Their well being is our utmost concern and we are proud that they choose to return year after year to work with us.
In response to the petition, there is a long established process in California for unions who are interested in representing farm employees. At Giumarra Vineyards, we are respecting and working within that legally established process. We would ask that the United Farm Workers Union do the same."
