1:30-3 p.m. Wednesday February 11, 2004, in Sacramento
Dozens of fired Central Coast flower workers take pre-Valentine’s Dayappeal for state help to Sacramento
Dozens of Central Coast flower workers fired last week after voting for the United Farm Workers in a state-conducted union election will sit in at state farm labor board offices across from the state Capitol in a pre-Valentine’s Day appeal for relief.
The 47 farm workers at Watsonville-based McCahon Floral, which produces potted flowering plants, voted for the UFW in a secret-ballot election held on Jan. 7 following a brief strike. The election results were certified by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board on Feb. 2. Three days later, on Friday, Feb. 6, 24 of them were fired.
The company claims there wasn’t enough work, but McCahon Floral—which grows mums, cyclamen, daisies, violets and hydrangea, among other plants—is entering its busiest season in advance of Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day. McCahon Floral sells to major retailers, including Trader Joe’s.
The workers believe they were fired for trying to improve working conditions at the nursery. They seek clean bathrooms, decent drinking water and fair pay.
Charges already filed with the ALRB against the company include illegally firing the 24 workers for supporting the UFW and failing to bargain with the union over the terminations as required by state law.
Who: Dozens of fired flower workers from the Central Coast led by UFW Organizing Director Mark Splain.
What: Sitting in at the office of farm labor board General Counsel Norma Turner demanding the state order reinstatement of the fired nursery workers.
When: 1:30-3 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004.
Where: Agricultural Labor Relations Board, 915 Capitol Mall, 3rd floor, Sacramento.
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