Word: grapes
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...beginning of last summer, the AFL-CIO's United Farm Workers' Organizing Committee (UFWOC) decided it would finally try to unionize the fresh grape industry. In July, they sent a team of experienced organizers to the Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, largest producer of fresh grapes in the world, near Bakersfield, Calif. It took three weeks for the union men to present their case to the farm workers. By the end of July they had voted unanimously to strike...
...their attempts to counter the boycott, the Giumarra family have proved unusually resourceful. On August 5, they called a secret meeting of lawyers for the country's largest grape producers. The UFWOC learned from an informant who was present at the meeting that the growers would allow Giumarra to market grapes under all of their labels. Before the boycott effort had been initiated, Giu- marra sold grapes under six labels; the two most well known were "Arra Grapes" and "Grape King." Now, according to union information, there are at least 35 different labels used for grapes grown by Giumarra...
Having refused to stop selling Giumarra grapes, Rabb and associates have not been content to rest on their laurels. Signs have been placed on the grape stands of "Stop and Shop": "This brand of grapes is not one of those being picketed." Actually, according to the UFWOC organizers, they are the brand of firms which agreed to market Giumarra grapes. Also, says Moonves, the company has made a behind-the-scenes attempt to keep publicity about the grape strike and picketing out of the local papers...
...UFWOC organizers put his assessment of the situation in these terms. "The grape money, it is peanuts, you know, compared to what these big money boys have. But they sure do stick together anyway...
...organizers, no matter how discouraging the situation appears now, it is not a question of whether or not the boycott will succeed, but rather one of how long it will take. They will continue picketing until Giumarra relents or until the grape season is over. If the strike continues, they will be picketing again next year. They have a driving sense of mission. "If Giumarra goes, one million farm workers will be organized in five years," says one organizer...