Our New Anahuac

Late last year, I posted about The United Farmworker’s Union (UFW) and their campaign against Giumarra, the largest table grape company in the world.  Being that the UFW was home to Cesar Chavez, whom certain conservatives are literally trying to write out of the history books, I thought this update would be important.  Please consider signing the petition using the links below.

News From the United Farm Workers

SIGN THE PETITION: Giumarra Vineyards sued by EEOC for Sexual Harassment &
Retaliation

Go to: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc

We need your help. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has just
filed suit against Giumarra Vineyards for allegedly violating federal law by
sexually harassing a teenage female farm worker and retaliating against farm
workers who came to her aid.

You most probably remember Giumarra, and their Nature’s Partner label, from the
e-mails we sent you last summer. We told you about their outrageous behavior and
despicable actions against workers–many of whom are organizing for a union
contract. Giumarra Vineyards, the world’s largest table grape company, harvests
approximately 1 out of every 10 bunches of grapes picked in the US. Because the
company is so huge, their behavior helps set the industry standard.

The EEOC case is consistent with the company’s behavior, as Giumarra has a long
history of intimidating workers and violating their rights. According to the
EEOC’s suit (EEOC v. Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, et al, Case No.
1:09-cv-02255), the young woman “was subjected to sexual advances, sexually
inappropriate touching and abusive and offensive sexual comments about the male
sex organ by a male co-worker.” The EEOC further alleged that after witnessing
the sexual harassment, farm workers came to the aid of the teenage victim and
complained to Giumarra Vineyards.

The result? One day after reporting the incident, the victim and people who
helped her were fired. The EEOC suit states they “were summarily discharged in
retaliation for their opposition to the sexual harassment.” (More details in the
EEOC’s press release.)

What happened to this vulnerable young girl and the others who simply came to
her defense was reprehensible and illegal.

We have begun an online petition. A delegation of women leaders will hand it in
to Giumarra/Nature’s Partner and attempt to meet with this company in
mid-February. Please sign the petition today–and send it to as many friends as
possible. Give Giumarra a strong message that you will not tolerate this
behavior.

Go to: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc

——————————————————————

Can you do one more thing?

To really drive the message home to Giumarra/Nature’s Partner, we want to ask
you to take one more step.

Can you please take 1 minute and post a comment directly on Nature’s Partner’s
website by going to http://action.ufw.org/np?

It’s easy to do. Just go to http://action.ufw.org/np and post a message like the
below example. (If you can put it into your own words that would be even
better.):

I am astonished and dismayed at Giumarra’s disregard of the law. This is not
medieval times.  In the 21st century workers have the right to speak up to
protect themselves and others.  Giumarra is not above the law. It is astonishing
that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was forced to file suit
against Giumarra Vineyards for violating federal law by sexually harassing a
teenage female farm worker and retaliating against farm workers who came to her
aid.

As the world’s largest table grape company, your behavior helps set the industry
standard. You should be ashamed of the example you are setting both in this case
with the sexual harassment and retaliation and with your dismal history of
worker protection. This behavior reflects negatively on your company and your
Nature’s Partner label.

It’s time for your company to realize that you are not above the law. Stop the
sexual harassment and retaliation for field workers who speak up or support the
UFW. Your consumers are watching.

This extra step can do a lot to make sure Giumarra and it’s Nature’s Partner
label are aware that their customers are watching them.

Thank you!
—-

United Farm Workers,  P.O. Box 62, Keene, CA 93531