Farm Union Bill Holds Peril for California Leader

NYT ^ | 08/09/2002 | STEVEN GREENHOUSE

[EBUCK]

Farm Union Bill Holds Peril for California Leader
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 8 — A union's chief role is to deliver better wages and benefits to its members, so it has been a huge frustration for the United Farm Workers that agricultural workers have not gotten a contract more than half the times they have voted to unionize.

The union has turned to the state capital for help, and today the Legislature sent Gov. Gray Davis a bill that would enable unionized farm workers to use binding arbitration to obtain a contract. California's $27 billion agricultural industry opposes the bill, insisting that contracts imposed through arbitration will drive growers out of business.

The bill poses major problems for Governor Davis, a Democrat, as he seeks re-election. If he signs it, he will upset growers and businesses, two groups he has courted. If he vetoes it, he will anger his longtime allies in organized labor and in Hispanic groups. So far, the governor has not tipped his hand.

"This is extremely significant legislation," said Kent Wong, a professor specializing in labor issues at the University of California at Los Angeles, "and it creates some real problems for the governor. On the one hand, he very much wants labor support. He is counting on strong labor turnout in November. But on the other hand, he is trying hard to attract middle-class voters, so he doesn't want to appear to be in labor's pocket."

"SNIP" Click HERE for complete article.

[EBUCK]

Notice that last paragraph...the bill doens't matter. Only weighing the pro's and con's relative to the Nov. election.

If this goes thru I expect Cali's economy to collapse.

EBUCK

[Mr. Jeeves]

Davis will probably veto it, if only to keep the cash flowing through the November election. Then he'll employ the same tactic the Democrats used on the anti-SUV law: bring it back in a slightly altered from under a different name next year. Promises will be made to the MALDEF/La Raza types that if they keep quiet about it now, they'll get what they want next year.

[EBUCK]

Probably his best strategy right there. Throw it out the front door, sneak it in the back door after re-election. It just pisses me off that the bills content isn't even part of the discussion, it all about garnering votes for the next cycle. Makes me sick.

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[Uncle Hal]

He will sign it guaurenteed. He signed the auto emissions bill so he will sign this. He is a liberal so he will toe the liberal line. All the big liberal papers in the state are for it. He will not anger his base.

[EBUCK]

Do you think the writers threw in

he is trying hard to attract middle-class voters

to throw us off the trail?

EBUCK