Salinas, CA (June 14, 2013) – After a prolonged legal battle, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) has determined that a unionization election at Corralitos Farms, Inc. rejecting the United Farm Workers (UFW) union was lawfully conducted. The election was originally held on September 26, 2012, but was subsequently challenged by UFW lawyers after a majority of workers voted against unionization.

National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys represented employees who opposed the union’s presence and were called to testify at the initial ALRB hearing on the election.

When the ballots were counted last September, a clear majority of employees voted against unionization. UFW operatives refused to accept the results and instead moved to overturn the election by filing charges against Corralitos Farms, alleging that company officials unlawfully influenced the outcome.

UFW lawyers made numerous allegations against the company. However, none were found to have merit by an Administrative Law Judge or the ALRB. In fact, workers represented by the National Right to Work Foundation testified that it was union operatives, not company officials, who attempted to intimidate them.

Despite the UFW’s claims, an Administrative Law Judge upheld the election results on March 1, 2013. After reviewing the case and the UFW’s objections to that ruling, the ALRB also upheld the election results.

“We’re happy to report that the California ALRB has upheld the wishes of the Corralitos Farms employees who decisively voted against unionization last year.” said Patrick Semmens, Vice President of the National Right to Work Foundation. “Employees who vote against a union shouldn’t be ignored because of trumped-up charges filed by union bosses attempting to reverse the outcome of an election they clearly lost.”

The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.

Posted on Jun 14, 2013 in News Releases