UFW celebrates Gallo contract

<p>Uncorking bottles of Gallo of Sonoma wine on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall, jubilant United Farm Workers on Wednesday toasted a new contract for 300 Sonoma County vineyard workers and vowed to use it as a tool to expand union membership in Wine Country.</p><p>But some agricultural industry leaders said they are not concerned about a campaign of union organizing in Sonoma County's 60,000 acres of vineyards. They said good working conditions, fair pay and the large number of small-scale growers discourages union membership in the county's $2 billion wine industry.</p><p>The tough challenge of expanding union membership among North Coast farmworkers did not discourage union leaders from predicting more success.</p><p>"We're going to share this victory with the rest of the workers in Napa and Sonoma counties and give them the same opportunity," UFW President Arturo Rodriguez said.</p><p>The top UFW official on the North Coast said his goal is to expand the number of Sonoma and Napa county farmworkers under a UFW contract from 600 today to 1,000 by the end of 2006.</p><p>"Each year we're going to add more and more. This is our mission, to improve better conditions of Latino families," said Casimiro Alvarez, the UFW regional director in Santa Rosa.</p><p>He would not say which growers might be affected. The UFW is negotiating a contract at Saralee and Richard Kunde's Russian River vineyards. It represents workers at Balletto Ranch in Sonoma County and at St. Supery winery, Charles Krug Winery and Vista Vineyard Management in Napa County.</p><p>One expert agreed that the contract with Gallo will increase farmworker interest in being represented by the UFW.</p><p>"A contract like the one with Gallo is always a positive signal because it shows workers that the union has the ability to hammer out an agreement," said Howard Rosenberg, a farm labor specialist at UC Berkeley.</p><p>"It shows that the risk of organizing and then voting for a union might result in some future payoff in better salaries and benefits," he said.</p><p>But Lex McCorvey, executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, said he doesn't believe the contract will have much impact.</p><p>"Many of the county's growers provide a level of compensation, both salary and benefits, that is often beyond what the union provides. For many workers there is no need to join a union," he said.</p><p>Matt Gallo, who oversees Gallo operations in Sonoma County, would not make himself available for comment Wednesday despite repeated requests.</p><p>Gallo spokesman John Segale said Matt Gallo and other members of the Gallo family refused to be interviewed because they wanted to keep the contract settlement "low key."</p><p>"They believe it's time to move on and there is harvest at hand," Segale said.</p><p>The UFW launched an international boycott of Gallo of Sonoma wines in June after failing to negotiate a contract to replace one that expired November 2003. Segale said the boycott had no impact on Gallo's negotiation strategy.</p><p>"It was not felt or seen by us or by our customers," he said.</p><p>Instead, Segale said, the contract agreement finally was reached last week because the UFW returned to the negotiating table after a nearly 10-month absence while it prepared for the boycott.</p><p>But Rodriguez and union members said the boycott, which they called off Wednesday, was effective.</p><p>"The proof is in the pudding," Rodriguez said.</p><p>The new contract covers 308 farmworkers and machine operators, including 80 people who work directly for Gallo and 228 who work for farm labor contractors hired by Gallo.</p><p>It offers a 7 percent wage increase over the 2½ years of the contract, lower health care costs for Gallo employees and a $5-a-ton annual increase in the harvest piece rate. It includes grievance and seniority rights and a $400 annual bonus for contract workers.</p><p>The hourly base wage for Gallo of Sonoma workers is already $8.38 - 5 percent more than the average starting wage for vineyard workers in the county - and will rise to $8.98 by the end of the contract.</p><p>Gallo of Sonoma workers voted 188-2 in favor of the new contract, Alvarez said.</p><p>UFW officials said they now want to build a better relationship with Gallo.</p><p>"I want to tell the company we're ready to work together with you," said Antonio Campa, a farmworker who has worked for Gallo 27 years.</p><p>The union will find it challenging to organize farmworkers in the county, several vineyard workers said.</p><p>At the Dry Creek General Store on Dry Creek Road, vineyard workers Rodrigo Lopez, 21, and his two brothers Ruben, 22, and Jesus, 18, said they were happy with their employer, Saini Farms.</p><p>"The boss treats us well," said Rodrigo, who earns $9 an hour. "We've never had any problems with the company ... we get three breaks during the day and a half hour for lunch. The work is hard at first, but it is easier with experience."</p><p>Jose, a worker at another vineyard who did not give his last name because he did not want to jeopardize his job, said farmworkers in Sonoma County would benefit from UFW representation. Sometimes growers fail to provide cold water or clean and accessible bathrooms, he said.</p><p>"We get paid whatever the boss wants to give us. Even when the harvest is bountiful, the pay remains the same," he said.</p>