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Gallo Boycott over! Buy the union label!

by National Farm Worker Ministry
Once again, our solidarity with farm workers has made a difference! Today the UFW announced that they had signed a 30-month contract with Gallo Vineyards, ending the 3 month Gallo boycott.
Gallo Boycott over! Buy the union label!

Once again, our solidarity with farm workers has made a difference! Today the UFW announced that they had signed a 30-month contract with Gallo Vineyards, ending the 3 month Gallo boycott.

The new agreement covers all 310 Gallo farm workers in Sonoma County. Including a unilateral raise Gallo granted in April, the Sonoma workers will see their base hourly pay rise 9.5% to $8.98 by the end of the 30-month contract. Those workers hired through labor contractors will have the right to file grievances over discipline and seniority issues for the first time.

The UFW made the contract announcement at noon today on the steps of city hall in San Francisco, three months to the day from the boycott kick-off. NFWM’s California organizer, Ana Rizo, who emceed the event said, “There was great energy as farm workers waved flags and celebrated in solidarity with the supporters who helped in this victory.”

Major Gallo of Sonoma labels include Gallo of Sonoma, Mac Murray Ranch and Frei Brothers. For a list of other union label wines and produce, order our wallet-sized Shopping Guide (http://www.nfwm.org/nfwmresources/resources.shtml)

Further coverage in the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/business/careers/work/la-fi-gallo14sep14,1,7550742.story?coll=la-headlines-business-careers)

Thank you for your support!



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by UFW website
9/14/05: 12 noon on San Francisco City Hall steps

Farm workers and supporters toast

the UFW’s new contract with Gallo



Hundreds of vineyard workers and supporters join United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez Friday on the steps of San Francisco City Hall, three months to the day after the boycott of Gallo wine was kicked off and at the scene of the announcement.



This time they will pour wine from Gallo of Sonoma bottles and toast a new UFW contract with the winemaker that was overwhelmingly ratified by vineyard workers. Unionized waiters, members of Unite-Here Local 2, will serve the Gallo wine.



Many of the same people gathered at 12 noon on June 14, 2005 in front of city hall in San Francisco to launch the UFW’s first major nationwide boycott in more than 20 years. The company, the leading U.S. wine exporter, is one of the world's biggest wine producers and the largest in the U.S. by cases sold. The new agreement covers all 310 Gallo farm workers in Sonoma County.



Who: Gallo of Sonoma workers, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez, hundreds of union supporters.



What: Pouring wine from Gallo of Sonoma bottles and toasting the new UFW-Gallo contract.

When: 12 noon, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005.


Where: Steps of San Francisco City Hall facing Civic Center Plaza.

by p
it's not over.they just murdered a BLACK woman in texas.the fight isnt over.dont buy ''wine'' while people of my particular blood background are being sacrificed by the white mans lethal poisons.we're supposed to fight for this or that groups ''rights'' ,but i find that african ''genetics'' are still considered like ''cooties'' to every other race.this is STILL truly not a ''multiracial'' struggle.chicanos have issues , blacks have issues,but what about so called ''mixed'' people like me.i have no large group to watch MY back.i have ALWAYS supported native righys and all races rights and even RISKED MY LIFE for other ''races'' but when i was attaked there was no one to turn to.we are STILL a racial specific society, so this gallo victory is in no way a reason to rest on laurels while people like me have been literally tortured and threatened.we must go out of our way to protect mixed people too , not just ''black'' or ''latino'' or '' chicano'' or whatever.as a black friend of mine said with a tired harummph in his voice'' they TALK about diversity......'' as his voice trailed of in cynical resignation.total bullcrap, this idea of diversity.look at the scars on my multiracial body and soul.that will show you the extent of ''diversity'' in this craphole country.
by pesticides still cause cancer
So now that the Gallo boicot is over, is Gallo committed to discontinuing use of toxic and carcinogenic pesticides?

Am not going to celebrate with a bottle of Gallo wine. Am continuing the Gallo boicot due to their continued use of pesticides. If anything i would support local organic vinyards that care enough about their workers to cease any direct exposure to pesticides. Pesticide drift from Gallo vinyards continues to enter the lungs of people thoughout Sonoma. The UFW may compromise on certain issues, however abolition of pesticide exposure to workers isn't on their list of "realistic expectations."

"Farmworkers who are exposed to toxic pesticides on an ongoing basis are at greater risk for cancer, birth defects, depression and other diseases, as well as work-related injury. Under current U.S. pesticide law, farmworkers are not treated as equals with the rest of society. Pesticide cancer and other disease risks are permitted to be ten times higher for farmworkers than the general population."

above from Beyond Pesticides;

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/news/daily_news_archive/2005/07_19_05.htm

We can continue to expect immigrant grape pickers employed by Gallo to be exposed to toxic and carcinogenic pesticides. Maybe their pay raise can pay for ineffective chemotherapy treatment for cancer? Doubt it..

If any Gallo wine bottle ever enters my hands i'll smash it on the ground without purchasing it in honor of all the people who died of cancer from pesticide exposure while working in Gallo's corporate vinyards..



luna moth
by Casual Observer
As far as I know, the Gallo vineyard are not involved in the Texas judicial system or the death penalty. Lighten up and have a glass of wine.
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