Stirling’s Role as ALRB Counsel

The recent accusation by church leaders of partiality and bias against David Stirling, the chief administrative staff member of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, is nothing more than the pot calling the kettle black (Times, Nov. 8), “Eight Churchmen Urge Ouster of Farm Labor Board Counsel.”

Although quick to call for Stirling’s resignation after he authored a single article and made one speech that criticized Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers union, the church leaders did nothing to protest the partiality and bias of board member Jerome Waldie when he wrote numerous articles and gave speeches that were blatantly opposed to the grower community two years ago. The clerics revealed their own bias against agriculture in selectively objecting to Stirling’s public expression of his opinions.

In view of Waldie’s position as a board member whose duty it is to make legally binding decisions in farm labor disputes, the debate over his bias and partiality in favor of Chavez and the UFW is even more critical than that over a staff member of the agency. Waldie’s obvious bias in favor of Chavez and the UFW is offensive and has seriously undermined the effectiveness of the law.

As a staff member, Stirling does not rule directly on labor disputes that come before the board. However, since his appointment, Stirling has made a tremendous effort to ensure the fairness of the agency’s administration of the law, turning it slowly away from its previous pro-Chavez bias.

A fair, even-handed administration of the farm labor law best protects the rights of farm workers in our state. Since the law’s inception under the direction of former Gov. Jerry Brown, Chavez has treated the agency as though it was the government branch of the UFW. These church leaders have fallen dupe to Chavez’s anger at having the agency become the neutral, quasi-judicial body it was intended to be.

The clerics and the ALRB members who criticize David Stirling are showing their own partiality in this absurd call for Stirling’s resignation. To refer to a Bible verse on judgment (Matthew 7:3), perhaps they should take the wooden beam out of their own eyes before accusing Stirling of having a speck in his.

DARYL ARNOLD

Irvine

Arnold is president of the Western Growers Assn.