11 a.m.-12 noon Sunday at Fresno Convention Center
First grower, the head of a major U.S. ag group, speaks at UFW convention in joint push for historic AgJobs immigration reform
For the first time in its 42-year history, on Sunday a grower–and the leader of one of the nation’s most important agricultural organizations–will address the biennial convention of the union founded by Cesar Chavez. It is part of a joint union-industry bid to enact the AgJobs bill, landmark bipartisan legislation letting undocumented farm workers earn the permanent legal right to stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture.
Peter Orum, owner of a 400-acre nursery in Illinois and president of the American Nursery & Landscape Association, will address 1,000 delegates and guests attending the 17th Constitutional Convention of the United Farm Workers of America at the Fresno Convention Center. Speaking with Orum on the AgJobs bill will be UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Mexican Consul General Ruben Beltran–highest ranking Mexican consular official in California–and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a principal author of the bill.
The theme of the second day of the two-day UFW convention, running Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28 and 29, is calling on President Bush and Republican leaders in the Senate to allow a floor vote on the AgJobs bill. It has 63 Senate co-sponsors, including 26 Republicans, which is more than enough to block attempts to stall the measure. More than 400 organizations back AgJobs, from business and labor to Latino and immigrant rights groups. In July, the White House told Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) to block a floor vote on the AgJobs measure.
Delegates on Sunday will also vote on setting new UFW policy to deal with the Gallo of Sonoma winery, where union members have been working without a contract since Nov. 1, 2003.
Who: National grower leader Peter Orum, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, top Mexican diplomat Ruben Beltran, U.S. Rep. Howard Berman.
What: Addressing the UFW’s two-day 17th Biennial Constitutional Convention and urging President Bush and GOP leaders to allow a U.S. Senate floor vote on the AgJobs immigration reform bill.
When: 11 a.m.-12 noon, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2000 on AgJobs and Gallo of Sonoma; convention runs 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Press availability with principals at 12 noon on Sunday.)
Where: Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall, 848 “M” St., Fresno.
(For background on AgJobs, visit www.ufw.org and click on AgJobs. For background on Gallo visit www.GalloUnfair.com.)
First grower, the head of a major U.S. ag group, speaks at UFW convention in joint push for historic AgJobs immigration reform
For the first time in its 42-year history, on Sunday a grower–and the leader of one of the nation’s most important agricultural organizations–will address the biennial convention of the union founded by Cesar Chavez. It is part of a joint union-industry bid to enact the AgJobs bill, landmark bipartisan legislation letting undocumented farm workers earn the permanent legal right to stay in this country by continuing to work in agriculture.
Peter Orum, owner of a 400-acre nursery in Illinois and president of the American Nursery & Landscape Association, will address 1,000 delegates and guests attending the 17th Constitutional Convention of the United Farm Workers of America at the Fresno Convention Center. Speaking with Orum on the AgJobs bill will be UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Mexican Consul General Ruben Beltran–highest ranking Mexican consular official in California–and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a principal author of the bill.
The theme of the second day of the two-day UFW convention, running Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28 and 29, is calling on President Bush and Republican leaders in the Senate to allow a floor vote on the AgJobs bill. It has 63 Senate co-sponsors, including 26 Republicans, which is more than enough to block attempts to stall the measure. More than 400 organizations back AgJobs, from business and labor to Latino and immigrant rights groups. In July, the White House told Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) to block a floor vote on the AgJobs measure.
Delegates on Sunday will also vote on setting new UFW policy to deal with the Gallo of Sonoma winery, where union members have been working without a contract since Nov. 1, 2003.
Who: National grower leader Peter Orum, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, top Mexican diplomat Ruben Beltran, U.S. Rep. Howard Berman.
What: Addressing the UFW’s two-day 17th Biennial Constitutional Convention and urging President Bush and GOP leaders to allow a U.S. Senate floor vote on the AgJobs immigration reform bill.
When: 11 a.m.-12 noon, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2000 on AgJobs and Gallo of Sonoma; convention runs 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Press availability with principals at 12 noon on Sunday.)
Where: Fresno Convention Center Exhibit Hall, 848 “M” St., Fresno.
(For background on AgJobs, visit www.ufw.org and click on AgJobs. For background on Gallo visit www.GalloUnfair.com.)
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