Another Firm Affected in Walkout at Wineries

A strike against Christian Brothers wineries went into its second week Monday, as yet another winery was struck and prospects dimmed for settlement of a contract dispute at plants that produce about half of California’s wine.

At about 11 a.m., 60 union members struck the southern San Joaquin Valley’s big Vie-Del Co. and started picketing, according to company sales manager Dianne S. Nury. She said work continued with management personnel.

The E & J Gallo Winery at Modesto, largest wine maker in the world, and nine other members of the Winery Employers Assn. are also threatened with strikes. About 1,500 union workers are affected.

Management claims it must have cost relief because of reversals in California wine sales in the past five years, attributed primarily to the strong dollar and the 25%-plus foreign share of the U.S. wine market.

Labor disputes involving two locals of the Winery, Distillery and Allied Workers Union and the United Farm Workers Union flared within the past three weeks over money issues as the grape harvest neared. The UFW dispute involves only the crop workers, not the wineries.

“We made an offer of wage reductions of 75 cents an hour the first year, a freeze the second year and a snap-back in the third year of 75 cents an hour, giving them the economic relief they were asking for,” said winery union spokesman Robert Fogg. “They refused that.” Fogg refused to talk about any strike plans against Gallo, saying, “That’s strike strategy. I will not go into it.”

However, he did say, “The strikes will progress.”

Gallo has about 40% of the California wine market and about 25% of the U.S. market.

Besides Christian Brothers, Vie-Del and Gallo, the employer group includes Almaden, Franzia, Bronco, Gibson, Lamont, Charles Krug, Sun Maid, Fromm & Sichel and Midcal.

The employers say the winery workers are paid a range of $8.75 to $15.50 an hour and have demanded a 2% to 3% across-the-board wage increase, with all benefits to remain in place.

An employer report said the workers have been asked to take a wage freeze, a pay cut for one classification and a reduction in pension, welfare, health and other fringe items of past contracts.