AMERICAN LABOUR:

MORE ON THE BEEF NORTHWEST CAMPAIGN BY THE UNITED FARM WORKERS:

Molly has reported several times on the campaign by the United Farm Workers of the USA and their efforts to organize the workers at Beef Northwest in Oregon. This is their latest appeal in the course of this campaign.

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Most BNW workers have signed up for a union.
Why won't the company negotiate?
Please read the overview below and the worker's story regarding the year-long campaign for Beef Northwest workers to get a UFW contract and then take action and send a letter to Beef Northwest today.

For nearly two years, Ramiro Salinas Jr. has worked at Beef Northwest's feedlot in Nyssa. He left a good-paying job in Salem to be closer to his three children and his father. He thought he would be able to spend more time with his children, but he soon discovered he was wrong.

Ramiro works 12 to 14 hour days, six days a week. That leaves little time for him to be with his children. He understands the reality he faces. With few full-time, year-round jobs available in eastern Oregon, Beef Northwest has the upper hand. If workers complain, they can be fired and quickly replaced by others who are more than willing to take a job no matter what treatment they must endure.

Tired of mistreatment, the long hours and a lack of respect, Ramiro and a number of his co-workers approached United Farm Workers. They wanted to be represented by the union and were ready to do whatever was necessary to achieve that representation.

That was more than a year ago. In that time, pro-union employees of Beef Northwest have been the target of harassment and threats. Although the company recognizes six holidays per year, it requires feedlot employees to work on those days anyway. That means workers don't get to spend Christmas or Thanksgiving together as other families do. As worker Hermenegildo Ortiz said, "The animals must eat every day, and we cannot give ourselves the luxury of missing a day."

Much has been said about whether the workers truly favor union representation. But on June 13, a card check was conducted at the feedlot by the Portland Workers' Rights Board. It found that the majority of workers do indeed want union representation. The card check was examined and counted personally by the Rev. Susan Leo of Portland's Bridgeport United Church of Christ on behalf of the Workers' Rights Board and Portland Jobs with Justice.

Based on the findings of this third party, why haven't negotiations been initiated between the workers and their employer, Beef Northwest? These workers are asking only for the opportunity of living a better life, something they believe they can achieve only through union representation.

Shouldn't they be afforded that chance?

Please send a letter to Beef Northwest today and tell them enough is enough. Stop the threats and pressure campaign. Give your workers the union contract they have fought for.

If you agree with what you have read so far please go to THIS LINK to read more and send the following letter to the management of Beef Northwest.

The Letter:

For more than a year the majority of your workers have been asking to be represented by the UFW. Instead of listening to their pleas you have started a pressure campaign threatening worker leaders and doing everything you could to scare workers away from wanting a union contract.

Despite this illegal and moral pressure you have not succeeded. On June 13, a card check was conducted at the feedlot by the Portland Workers' Rights Board. It found that the majority of workers do indeed want union representation. The card check was examined and counted personally by the Rev. Susan Leo of Portland's Bridgeport United Church of Christ on behalf of the Workers' Rights Board and Portland Jobs with Justice.

Based on the findings of this third party, why haven't negotiations been initiated?