Washington apple industry organizing drive gets juiced

WENATCHEE,WA -- Hundreds of union members -- led by national AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, Arturo Rodriguez, president of United Farm Workers (UFW), Rick Bender, Washington State Labor Council president, and Tom Leedham, international vice president of the Teamsters -- marched four city blocks from the Convention Center to Memorial Park drumming up support for a campaign to organize the state's 15,000 packinghouse workers and 40,000 orchard workers.

The rally was an extension of the Washington State Labor Council's 40th annual convention, which drew about 500 delegates to the three-day meeting.

The Apple Organizing Campaign is a joint effort between the Teamsters Union and the Farm Workers. It is the first major attempt to organize Washington apple workers in 20 years. The UFW is targeting orchard workers and the Teamsters are trying to organize packinghouse workers.

Washington reported average annual wages of $5,750 for apple orchard workers and $11,000 for packinghouse workers, compared with the state's average wage of $25,400.

Apple-growing is the most lucrative agricultural industry in Washington.

Teamster officials said a majority of workers at Washington Fruit and Stemilt have signed cards to authorize an election, but workers are still afraid that their vote would not be recognized by their employers.

Leedham, of Portland, said workers have low wages, limited benefits, health problems from repetitive motion or being exposed to chemicals and are being abused and harassed. "Is it any wonder apple workers are standing up?" he asked.