Nearly two years after being fired,
Charles Krug-Mondavi workers back
on job and have new contract
ST. HELENA – Nearly two years after being fired from Napa Valley’s Charles Krug-Mondavi winery, 24 employees have been reinstated with back-pay. In addition, the UFW has signed a four year contract between the company and the workers.
The previous contract had expired on Dec. 31, 2005 and employees had been working without a contract until July 7, 2006 when they were fired after being told they would be replaced by a land management company.
UFW Regional Director Casimiro Alvarez said, “This is a tremendous victory for the farm workers at Charles Krug-Mondavi. This just proves that when farm workers stand up to demand their rights, they will be heard.”
“I, along with my co-workers, am very happy because after having been fired unjustly by Charles Krug-Mondavi, we will be returning to our former jobs. And all because we remained organized and united in our struggle for farm worker justice,” said Jorge de Haro, who has worked at CK Mondavi 34 years.
In addition to back-pay, under the new contract the workers will receive an 18 percent pay increase over the four-year contract and the workers will have the same seniority and classifications they did at the time they were discharged.
The contract also covers sub-contracted employees who will be paid wage rates equal to those a UFW employee. Sub-contracted employees will also be entitled to the grievance and arbitration procedure for disputes which arise.
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