UFW President Rodriguez calls on owner of Coastal Berry to halt anti-union violence

July 1, 1998

Violence this morning against pro-union strawberry workers at Coastal Berry Co. in Santa Cruz County that was orchestrated by anti-union foremen prompted United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez to issue the following statement:

This morning, lawbreaking goons physically attacked pro-UFW workers at the company’s Riverside Ranch in Santa Cruz County and attempted to shut down the company’s cooling facility in Watsonville. This calculated and continuing violence was spearheaded by three anti-union foremen at Coastal Berry–brothers Joel and Augustine Lobato, and Enrique Leal–and others supported by a strawberry industry that still sternly resists progress for berry workers.

The violence resulted in injuries to three pro-UFW Coastal Berry workers who required hospital treatment. In response to the violence, the company shut down its field operations for the day and ordered workers to go home. It is clear that the great majority of Coastal Berry workers wanted to stay on the job so they could keep supporting their families. Still, this morning’s events exposed the majority of workers who didn’t participate in the chaos to a chilling lesson in what happens to those who seek progress through the UFW.

The responsibility for ending the violence and regaining control of the company rests squarely with Coastal Berry Co. owner David Gladstone. He must act quickly and decisively against those who planned and participated in today’s attacks and disruptions–plus anyone else who resorts to violence or violates state law by harassing or threatening workers who seek to organize.

Mr. Gladstone has a duty to restore a safe and secure environment in which workers can make a living and organize free from fear. The union and workers alerted Coastal Berry about what might occur before today’s actions, but to no avail. Judging by this morning’s spectacle, Coastal Berry is not a safe place in which to work, much less conduct a free and fair election.

The United Farm Workers is deeply troubled about developments at Coastal Berry because of what happened before when growers ignored threats of violence. In 1983, 19-year old farm worker Rene Lopez was shot to death just after voting in a state-conducted union election at Sikkema Dairy near Fresno. Before the murder, the UFW urged the company and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to act against grower agents brandishing firearms and threatening workers. They refused and a young farm worker lost his life. We do not wish to see that tragedy repeated at Coastal Berry Co.

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