(KMJ) A California appeals court has sided with one of the largest fruit farms in the country in its fight with state regulators and a union over a labor contract for its workers.
The 5th District Court of Appeal said Thursday that state officials should have given Gerawan Farming a chance to argue that the United Farm Workers had abandoned the company’s workers before ordering the parties into mediation over the contract.
The court reversed the state’s order.
“This is a significant victory for our employees, our family, and the entire industry. The Court’s ruling vindicates our argument that no state agency should be able to unilaterally impose a contract on workers without a vote or force it on employers without their
consent,” said the company’s co-owner, Dan Gerawan. “This decision is a significant win for all agricultural workers, who justifiably deserve the freedom to choose representatives to speak for them at the bargaining table.”
The UFW will appeal the decision.
