Board Accuses Pictsweet of Illegally Firing Worker
State labor lawyers have accused operators of the Pictsweet Mushroom Farm in Ventura of illegally firing a United Farm Worker’s organizer at the plant.
According to a complaint issued by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, Fidel Andrade was fired in May for exercising his right to organize and support the union.
Pictsweet and the UFW have been locked in a protracted labor dispute over wages and benefits.
Labor board attorneys are recommending that the company offer to rehire Andrade and reimburse him for lost wages.
Pictsweet officials could not be reached Friday for comment. They have 10 days to respond to the charges. If the company disputes the allegations, a hearing will be set before an administrative law judge, who will decide if Pictsweet violated the law and whether remedies should be imposed.
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