Gallo Struck as Winery Workers Expand Strike
Winery workers in a contract fight today struck the giant E. & J. Gallo. Co., largest wine-producer in the world and the latest of 10 struck wineries that produce about half of California’s wine.
The strike of about 1,000 Gallo union workers at 8 a.m. came as the harvest neared its conclusion and grape crushing was at its height in most of California’s wineries. All the struck wineries say production is continuing with nonunion personnel.
The striking members of the Winery, Distillery & Allied Workers Union Locals 186 and 45 joined about 1,200 others who since Aug. 18 have walked out at winery operations from the Napa Valley to Bakersfield.
The last major strike, involving 23 wineries, lasted 17 days and nearly shut off the California wine supply to the rest of the country. California retail wine sales are worth about $5.5 billion annually, according to the industry’s Wine Institute.
The Gallo family operation accounts for 25% of the U.S. market. The strike mainly involves the San Joaquin Valley, whose mainstay is the less-expensive jug wines.
The dispute involves much of the union’s contract, including work rules, fringe benefits, maintenance of contract and an employer demand for wage freezes based on a claim that business is bad and relief vital.
The new strike came a day after an announcement that the union and the 12-member Winery Employers Assn. will resume federally mediated negotiations Friday, 2 1/2 weeks after the last talks broke off.
The union turned down an employer offer that included a wage freeze for part of the contract, a pay cut claimed to hand a $4,000-a-year reduction to truckers, a reduction in first-tier wages on top of a 50-cent pay cut, and a slash in medical, pension and vacation benefits.
