Teamsters Hope Campaign Bears Fruit Union Attempt To Organize Apple Packers Produces Mixed Response From Workers

In the continuing struggle for rights and power in the apple industry, it’s the workers who are at the core.

For more than a year and a half, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has targeted the apple packing industry, hoping to win over the workers, particularly at Stemilt Growers Inc. in Wenatchee and Washington Fruit in Yakima.

Unions have tried to organize farm workers since at least the 1930s, but in the state of Washington they’ve had little success.

Teamsters Local 760 is trying to change that. The union claims it has majority support of workers at those packing plants - but still has not asked for an election.

During the past 19 months, some employees have staged pro-union demonstrations in Yakima, Wenatchee and in Western Washington. This summer they marched to present their demands for a contract to the companies’ leadership, which rejected the demands. Organizers have continued passing out union flyers, buttons and newsletters, trying to win more support.

In downtown Wenatchee, an old blue house on a busy street corner is the headquarters for the Teamsters local and the center of operations for the pro-union apple packers.

Last Tuesday, about 20 plant workers met there with union organizer Loreen Scheer to discuss on-the-job injuries, seniority rights and contracts.

As the Teamster’s main target in Wenatchee, Stemilt owner Tom Mathison feels the heat of the attention, but won’t accept union representation without a vote of employees.

“The Teamsters have been working on us for 19 months,” he said. “We think there would be enough time for them to call for an election.”

Companies are only legally required to recognize unions after a majority of the employees vote for representation by a particular union. Mathison said he knows that many of his employees don’t want the union.

“If we had the right to call for the election, then we would,” Mathison said. “But they want us to recognize the union without everybody getting a chance to vote. Stemilt will never agree to a union without an election.”

The employer could file a petition for an election if a union demands recognition, said Jim Lorang, acting assistant regional director for the National Labor Relations Board.

Some worker who support the union question whether a vote is the best way to settle the issue.

“What advantages do we gain from a vote?” said Mary Mendez, a Stemilt worker who has been very vocal in favor of the union. “We gain from a contract.”

But Julian Arredondo sees it differently. “If we have the majority like we think we do, we should have an election,” he said. “I figure, let’s just get it over.”

Meanwhile, the Teamsters keep meeting with workers, distributing leaflets, coordinating demonstrations and filing unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB against Stemilt, Washington Fruit and a few other apple packing plants.

Most of the charges against Stemilt have been dismissed or withdrawn, Mathison said. Stemilt agreed to settle some of the charges, he added. Settlements included re-hiring workers who the Teamsters said were unfairly fired.

Teamsters’ organizer Scheer said the union’s effort will continue. “The Teamsters have made a very important commitment to work with people in the industry to organize,” she said. “We’re going to be there to back them up. We’re in it for the long haul.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Graphic: Apple harvest