Sep 23, 2021

California ag groups praise Gov. Newsom’s veto of AB 616

California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson on  Sept. 22 applauded Gov. Gavin Newsom for vetoing Assembly Bill 616. The legislation would have allowed yearlong mail-in card-check campaigns for unionizing instead of a secret ballot election.

“The California Farm Bureau is proud of our farmers, ranchers and farm workers who stood up and spoke out against AB 616 and the threat it represented for the rights of agricultural employees to be free of undue fear and intimidation,” Johansson said in a news release. “The firm action taken today by Governor Newsom in vetoing 616 protects the sanctity of the secret ballot election. It means that strong-arm organizing tactics and coercion have no place in California agriculture.”

The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 32,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of nearly 5.6 million Farm Bureau members.

Western Growers agree with veto

In response to Governor Newsom’s veto of AB 616, Western Growers President & CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement:

“We commend Governor Newsom for rejecting the most recent UFW-backed attempt to dismantle the secret ballot election for farmworkers. In vetoing AB 616, Governor Newsom has preserved the integrity of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act and protected the rights of farmworkers in choosing whether to form or join a union. Governor Newson has sent to Sacramento lawmakers the clear message that card check has no place in California.

“We stand ready to engage with the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board and other stakeholders in the collaborative process outlined by the Governor in his veto message.”