Ranchers organize secret ballot on UFW bid to organize feedlots

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=619&ArticleID=45731&TM=72519.76

10/30/2008 8:48:00 AM

Workers to vote on union
Ranchers organize secret ballot on UFW bid to organize feedlots

Mitch Lies
Capital Press

Country Natural Beef is trying to resolve a long-running dispute between Beef Northwest feedlots and United Farm Workers.

The beef cooperative with the backing of Beef Northwest this week began organizing a union election, posting election notices and sample ballots at Beef Northwest's three feedlots.


John Boyer, left, and Skye Krebs, ranchers for Country Natural Beef, hand out letters to workers at Beef Northwest’s Boardman feedlot. The letters describe the Nov. 8 vote that will determine whether the workers want union representation. - Erin Mills East Oregonian


Beef Northwest finishes cattle for Country Natural Beef. The feedlot has outlets in Nyssa and Boardman, Ore., and Quincy, Wash.

The United Farm Workers union for the past several months has been trying to unionize Beef Northwest's 80 workers and has asked Country Natural Beef to urge the feedlot to work with the union, Davies said.

UFW also has pressured Whole Foods, which sells Country Natural Beef, to enter the dispute. UFW has picketed Whole Foods headquarters, launched a letter-writing campaign and at one point flooded the national grocer's switchboard with phone calls.

Country Natural Beef decided to get involved in part because the dispute threatens business, said Stacy Davies, marketing team leader for Country Natural Beef and manager of Roaring Springs Ranch near Frenchglen, Ore.


FULL story at link.