Oregon AFL-CIO Passes Resolution in Support of Threemile Canyon Farms Organizing Campaign
The board of the Oregon AFL-CIO, representing 141,000 workers throughout Oregon, has passed a resolution supporting the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO organizing campaign at Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman, Oregon.
The resolution recognizes the significant state and federal assistance that have gone into financially supporting this enterprise, all the while the Farm has threatened and intimidated workers.
Tim Nesbitt, President of the Oregon AFL-CIO, said; “We stand firmly with the workers at Threemile Canyon Farms who are up against a huge agro-industrial employer in their struggle for basic rights. We’re committed to seeing that this Farm is held accountable for its use of tax payer money and to ensure that the fundamental right of workers employed there is respected.”
The resolution calls on the Farm to immediately cease its anti union campaign and to engage in good faith negotiations with the UFW. It furthermore calls on all business involved with the Farm to: “…Use every effort to bring the [Farm] ownership to the negotiating table.”
Erik Nicholson, Pacific Northwest Regional Director of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, said; “This resolution sends a strong message to the Farm that the thousands of working people in Oregon stand with the workers at Threemile Canyon Farms. Together, we’re telling all companies who have business relations with the dairy that they need to do everything in their power to make sure justice is done.”
The United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO has been organizing workers employed at the dairies at Threemile Canyon Farms since January, 2003.