WHEREAS:
The United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO have begun their "Wrath of Grapes" and "Stop Poison Grapes" campaigns with the intention of informing consumers about the dangerous pesticide residue on California table grapes sold in public markets; and
WHEREAS:
The World Resources Institute reports that over 300,000 farm workers are poisoned each year by pesticides; and
WHEREAS:
Through the actions of Governor Deukmejian, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act has ceased to be an effective vehicle to empower farm workers to engage in collective bargaining processes that could deal with such occupational health hazards; and
WHEREAS:
Since the 1960s the United Farm Workers of America has helped farm workers and consumers win protection from dangerous pesticides such as DDT, Aldrin, and Dieldrin before the federal government took any such appropriate measures; and
WHEREAS:
Farm workers have lost their constitutional rights to organize and participate in free and open elections through the growers' refusals to negotiate fairly and their sponsored practices of violence and harassment; and
WHEREAS:
Grape growers are now using deadly pesticides that poison farm workers and cause increased cases of cancer and birth defects among children and also leave harmful levels of residues that may be hazardous to the consumers' well-being; and
WHEREAS:
The United Farm Workers of America have presented the following three demands to the growers of California table grapes:
- Eliminate the use of Captan, Methyl Bromide, Phosdrin, Parathion and Dinoseb;
- Call for joint testing by the U.F.W. and grape growers to determine the levels of Poisonous residue on grapes sold at public markets, and make these results available to all consumers;
- Allow free and fair elections among farm workers, enabling them to decide whether or not they desire union representation, and if so, guarantee good-faith negotiations with workers on collective bargaining agreements; and
WHEREAS:
The United Farm Workers of America, under the leadership of Cesar Chavez, have called for a new boycott of California table grapes until the aforementioned demands are realized; and
WHEREAS:
Across North America, federal, state and county lawmakers along with labor, social, religious, minority, and consumer groups are boycotting grapes.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates work to end the purchase of California State table grapes in all state, county and municipal institutions, through political action or collective bargaining where appropriate.
SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive Board