BY OMARI MUSA
WATSONVILLE, California-The United Farm Workers (UFW) union scored a victory in its year-long effort to organize the state's 20,000 strawberry field workers when Gargiulo Inc.'s new owners agreed June 17 to stay neutral in the drive. Strawberry production is a $600 million industry in California.

Gargiulo, (now renamed Coastal Berry Company), is one of the nations largest strawberry employers in the Pajaro Valley and had vehemently opposed the UFW's efforts to unionize the workers there. Gargiulo's former owner was chemical giant Monsanto. At peak season about 1,500 workers were employed in its fields.

UFW president Arturo Rodriguez told the media the agreement means that "Strawberry workers at Gargiulo are now free to organize for a union of their choice, without fear of intimidation."

Gargiulo's offices here has been the site of protests organized by UFW supporters against the company's refusal to rehire experienced workers who supported the unionization drive. The largest action in support of the farmworkers fight was an April 13 rally of 20,000 in Watsonville that drew unionists and others from all over the west coast and beyond.

Intimidation, firings and refusal to rehire union supporters has been the stock in trade of the growers for many years. Between 1989 and 1995 the UFW won three representation elections. The response of the growers was to plow under the berries and lay off the workers. The UFW has filed many charges with the state's Agricultural Labor Relations board against the growers' refusal to recognize the union or allow free access to the work force in the fields.

Supporters of the growers have made it clear that the agreement between the UFW and Coastal doesn't mean everybody will join in. Naturipe Berry Growers vice president Nick Pasculli noted, "The entire agricultural industry is paying close attention to developments at Coastal. But anyone who speculates as to whether what happens is the start of an industry trend is acting imprudently." Workers at the Naturipe facility are organized by the Teamsters union.

Several workers said that while they think the agreement is a step forward, the union's work is just really beginning. One worker said, "I told my friends and coworkers we need to sign up workers and win them to the union. That's still ahead of us. We will win, but it will be a battle."

The UFW filed a Notice to Organize with the National Labor Relations Board June 2 to begin signing up workers at Gargiulo. According to Rodriguez, elections for union representation could be held in September or October.  
 
 
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