FRESNO, CA (KMJ) The California Supreme Court turned down an appeal by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to review a lower court ruling on counting employee votes.
It’s been five years ago since Gerawan Farming employees cast votes to decide whether or not they should be part of the United Farm Workers union.
Dan Gerawan says the votes will be counted, now that the ALRB appeal has been denied, but he’s not clear as to when.
Gerawan tells KMJ “Our employees have fought very hard to achieve the same rights that all other workers have in this state and it’s time to count their votes.”
The UFW has not issued a statement on the matter, however, according to the Fresno Bee, the union is troubled by the Supreme Court decision and believes the issue is still in doubt.
George Radanovich, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association, applauded the decision by the California Supreme Court, upholding the earlier decision by the 5
District Court of Appeals ordering the ALRB to count the employee ballots cast in their 2013 decertification election.
“Today we welcomed this long overdue decision. We are pleased and encouraged by the recent decision by the California Supreme Court, which affirms that the most important opinion in
this entire matter, the prerogative of the employees will be heard,” Radanovich stated in a release.
Gerawan employees voted in a decertification election in November of 2013 to decide whether or not to decertify from the United Farm Workers Union. Despite the fact the ALRB ordered and oversaw the
decertification election, they impounded the ballots, denying recognition and acceptance of their decision. Radanovich continued, “Today’s court action would not have occurred without the determined effort of
Gerawan Farming, Inc., the Gerawan family, and in particular, company President Dan Gerawan for defending his company and his employee’s right to choose. This fight has been long and arduous, but
we are happy to see that light has been cast onto this injustice and the farmworkers voice will be heard.”
