Bill seeks to change how unions can organize farm workers, bill sent Monday to Gov. Schwarzenegger

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070827-1813-ca-xgr-farmworkers.html

By Don Thompson
ASSOCIATED PRESS

6:13 p.m. August 27, 2007

SACRAMENTO – Unions would be able to organize farm workers by collecting signed membership cards instead of holding an election with secret ballots under a bill sent Monday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Supporters said the change would deter intimidation by growers and could help boost the ranks of unions. In turn, farmers predicted it would have the opposite effect and allow coercion by union organizers.

Schwarzenegger has 30 days to consider the bill after the Senate agreed to technical Assembly amendments on a party-line, 23-14 vote. He has not taken a position.

The United Farm Workers union has stopped trying to organize laborers while it waits to see if the bill becomes law, union president Arturo Rodriguez said.

The union sought the change after suffering a loss two years ago while trying to organize workers employed by one of the nation's top producers of table grapes. Rodriguez said 80 percent of workers expressed interest in forming a union, but only 47 percent voted in favor by the time of the election a week later.

“Anybody who looked at that says, 'What happened in seven days?' Obviously there had to be a lot of intimidation, coercion,” he said in an interview.

FULL story at link.

[kernelfarmer]

1. Is there any reason to believe it won't be vetoed?

It seems to me that Arnie doesn't have the best track record with Working Families.