Gallo’s labor pains, part ii
E&J Gallo has reached an agreement today with the United Farm Workers who called for a boycott of the company’s wines three months ago (background). They will toast the agreement with Gallo of Sonoma wines later today reports the Press Democrat.
The new contract brings greater equality to contract workers and full-time gallo employees. Previously, contract workers had not received grievance procedures, health benefits or vacation even though they received the same wages and paid the same union dues. The new contract provides contract workers with grievance procedures and offers them a $400 bonus in lieu of health benefits according to the Post-Democrat. Sonoma workers will see their pay rise to $8.98 per hour by the end of this 30 month contract.
The story quotes UFW spokesman Marc Grossman as saying “We’re very pleased. The contract was ratified almost unanimously.”
Privately owned Gallo employs 4,400 workers and produced 58 million cases of wine in California last year. There is no comment on whether the boycott played any role in bringing the parties together.
