Gallo workers to vote on union

<p>The United Farm Workers union failed Friday to block an election to determine whether to oust the union representing vineyard workers at Gallo.</p><p>The state Agricultural Labor Relations Board denied the UFW’s petition to block Monday’s vote, which is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. at three Gallo vineyard sites in Sonoma County.</p><p>Fred Capuyan, director of the board’s regional office in Salinas, set the Monday vote after concluding enough workers had signed a petition asking the board to decertify the union, which has represented Gallo workers since 1994.</p><p>Vineyard worker Roberto Parra says he gathered signatures from 164 of Gallo’s approximately 300 unionized vineyard employees. He says high dues and poor communication have eroded support for the union. </p><p>The UFW asked the state board to overrule Capuyan, arguing that its recent contract extension with Gallo through 2011 precluded a vote. </p><p>The board rejected the request, finding the UFW had no right to stop the vote. The board also rejected the union’s request to prevent the votes from being counted until all challenges are complete, Capuyan said.</p>