Grape Growers Win 1st Round in Boycott Appeal

An administrative law judge for the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board recommended Wednesday that the United Farm Workers’ boycott of Vons supermarkets for selling California table grapes be ruled unlawful.

Administrative Law Judge James Wolpman recommended that the UFW compensate Vons and its employees for all damages resulting from its boycotts, which were actually directed at the California Table Grape Commission.

The administrative law judge’s recommended decision next goes to the farm labor board, which was established in 1975 to govern labor relations in California agriculture. If the union loses at that level, it can appeal the unfair labor practice ruling in state court.

The UFW has picketed Southern California’s largest supermarket chain, which also owns Tiangius and Pavilions, for about three years for refusing to stop carrying, advertising and promoting table grapes. The UFW hoped to use the tactic to gain leverage to push grape growers into improving workers’ conditions.

Cesar Chavez, president and founder of UFW, said the pesticides used by grape growers are a health hazard and called the judge’s ruling “political.” Said Chavez: “They can’t keep us from telling people not to buy at Von’s. That’s First Amendment. . . . We are not going to stop boycotting the store and we’re going to appeal it (the ruling).”

Terry Wallock, senior vice president and general counsel for Vons, Inc., said he hasn’t seen a copy of the ruling yet and doesn’t know what, if any, damage actions Vons might take.