AMERICAN LABOUR:

HELP FORTUNADO DIAZ- UNITED FARM WORKERS:

As reported several months ago here at Molly's Blog the United Farm Workers has been campaigning for some time to pressure purchasers of Beef Northwest to demand that said comp-any recognize its workers' demand for union representation. The company has retaliated by victimizing union activists such as Fortunado Diaz. See the story below for details and how you can help these workers.

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Increased retaliation against Beef Northwest worker for turning in your petition to Whole Foods:
Please help!
Back in April more than 13,000 UFW supporters signed a petition asking Whole Foods to help the Beef Northwest feedlot workers. Beef Northwest worker Fortunato Diaz went to Austin, Texas to lead a delegation which turned the petitions into the Whole Foods representative. Whole Foods said they were moved by Fortunado’s story. They said they would contact Beef Northwest and urge that the company to meet with the UFW to resolve the issue of union representation.

Instead Whole Foods has done nothing to help the workers and is trying to distance themselves from the situation. Even worse, Fortunato is being made an example of by Beef Northwest for asking for Whole Foods’ help.

On Tuesday, when weather.com put the high at 99 degrees, Fortunato told us how Beef Northwest supervisors sent him walking to remote areas of the ranch around a mile away from all the other workers and did not even provide him with drinking water in the searing heat! Not only is this retaliatory action morally wrong, but by failing to provide him with drinking water in the searing heat Fortunato’s life was put at risk.

Fortunato tells us, “They have me doing the worst jobs that others don’t want to do. I feel that all they wish is to humiliate me, and hurt my dignity so I will quit Beef Northwest. It’s revenge because I fight for my rights...I’ve always been the one who speaks out about the problems of harassment and intimidation that Beef Northwest targets against us workers. My fellow workers are always scared of reprisals...Now the workers see what they are doing to me and I think this has an effect.”

Whole Foods sells approximately 60% of all Country Natural Beef produced at Beef Northwest.

Tell Whole Foods that their lack of response is not acceptable. They should display some corporate responsibility. Send Whole Foods an e-mail today and ask them to tell Beef Northwest to stop its retaliation against Fortunato and to respect the June 13 card check and to begin negotiating immediately.

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Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter:

THE LETTER:

Back in April Beef Northwest worker Fortunato Diaz went to Austin, Texas to lead a delegation which turned in a petition with more than 13,000 signatures asking Whole Foods to help the Beef Northwest feedlot workers. Whole Foods said they were moved by Fortunado's story. They said they would contact Beef Northwest and urge that the company to meet with the UFW to resolve the issue of union representation.

Whole Foods said a lot of pretty words. Instead you are just trying to distance your company from the situation and have done nothing to help the workers.

Now, Fortunato is being made an example of by Beef Northwest for asking for Whole Foods' help.

Last week when weather.com put the high at 99 degrees, Beef Northwest supervisors sent Fortunado walking to remote areas of the ranch around a mile away from all the other workers and did not even provide him with drinking water in the searing heat! I am outraged to learn of the actions that the feedlot that fattens Country Natural Beef cows has taken against Fortunato Diaz. Not only is this retaliatory action morally wrong, but by failing to provide him with drinking water in the searing heat Fortunato's life was put at risk.

In describing the situation he is enduring Fortunato said, "They have me doing the worst jobs that others don't want to do. I feel that all they wish is to humiliate me, and hurt my dignity so I will quit Beef Northwest. It's revenge because I fight for my rights...I've always been the one who speaks out about the problems of harassment and intimidation that Beef Northwest targets against us workers. My fellow workers are always scared of reprisals?Now the workers see what they are doing to me and I think this has an effect."

Whole Foods sells approximately 60% of all Country Natural Beef produced at the Beef Northwest Feedlots. It's time to stop the retaliation and stalling and bring justice to the workers employed at Beef Northwest. I call on you to use your influence to end the inhumane actions against Fortunato immediately and to call on Beef Northwest to end this dispute. It's time for Beef Northwest to respect the card check & negotiate a contract.