6:30 p.m. Tuesday news conference at Old City Hall steps
Giant tree fruit grower suggests suing Berkeley over council resolution supporting Fresno County workers
Berkeley, Calif.—One of America’s largest tree fruit growers is suggesting a lawsuit against Berkeley if its city council approves a resolution at tonight’s meeting urging giant Gerawan Farming Inc. to refrain from violating state labor laws and to “immediately implement [a] union contract issued by [a] neutral mediator and the state of California” last year.
Joining at a 6:30 p.m. news conference before today’s 7 p.m. City Council meeting will be United Farm Workers National Vice President Armando Elenes, a number of Gerawan workers from Fresno County, councilmembers and community supporters, all on the steps of the Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley 94704.
Agricultural Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge Mark R. Soble began Monday to hear what could be months of sworn testimony on sweeping indictments from state prosecutors charging Gerawan with multiple, serious and repeated violations of the law aimed at “prevent[ing] the [United Farm Workers] from ever representing its employees under a [union contract]” and at decertifying, or getting rid, of the UFW, according to the ALRB general counsel, which issued the allegations.
Meantime, attorneys for Gerawan sent Councilmembers Kriss Worthington, Jesse Arreguin and Linda Maio a letter on Sept. 27, citing alleged “defamatory statements” in the proposed council resolution and warning them the “republication of libelous statements, whether in newsletters, press releases, constituent updates, or speeches outside the legislative chamber, is not immunized from liability or shielded by” constitutional guarantees of free speech and debate.
For text and analysis of the resolution, Consent Item 28 “Calling on Gerawan Farming to Respect the Law” by Councilmembers Arreguin, Worthington and Maio, go to that item on Page 315 at http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2014/09_Sep/City_Council__09-30-2014_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx
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