Farm Worker Initiatives 1976 General Resolution

WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association has supported the right of farm workers to organize into a union for the purposes of collective bargaining with their employers, and has specifically supported the nonviolent efforts of the United Farm Workers of America; and

WHEREAS, the ten-year struggle of farm workers in California has led to a major legislative breakthrough that guarantees seasonal and year-round farm workers an opportunity to vote in a secret ballot election for the union of their choice, and the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act is not holding elections in California at this item because a minority of legislators allied with the growers and Teamsters has successfully blocked refunding of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board; and

WHEREAS, the United Farm Workers have gathered 719,000 signatures on an initiative petition which will put the Agricultural Labor Relations Act on the general election ballot in California in November in order to ensure the continuation and funding of the law;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association in General Assembly encourages its friends and constituents in California to lend support to the farm worker initiative which will be voted on by all the people of California, November 2, 1976; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association calls on its constituents to support California-type collective bargaining legislation for farm workers in Florida and other states where the United Farm Workers have begun an organizing drive and are seeking support for such labor legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Unitarian Universalist Association urges all persons of good will in North America to seek out and purchase United Farm Worker label grapes and head lettuce to affirm those growers who have bargained in good faith and as an incentive to growers who are procrastinating in negotiations.