BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Kern County Superior Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Wonderful Co., pausing the farmworker unionization efforts under a disputed state law while the company’s lawsuit proceeds. Judge Bernard C. Barmann ruled that the $6-billion agricultural firm demonstrated a significant likelihood of prevailing in its challenge against California’s recently enacted “card-check” unionization process.
The legal conflict began when Wonderful, owned by philanthropists Stewart and Lynda Resnick, contended that the legislation, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law in 2022, infringes on constitutional rights by allowing a union to organize workers with less transparency. The law permits the United Farm Workers (UFW) to collect authorization cards from farmworkers in non-workplace settings without prior employer notification, replacing traditional secret ballot methods that take place at designated polling locations.
Wonderful asserts that the alternative method not only bypasses essential due process but also coerces the company into accepting a collective bargaining agreement without properly investigating possible fraudulent activities during the union certification vote. This claim sparked controversy, especially after numerous workers at Wonderful Nurseries in Wasco — the largest grapevine nursery in the U.S. — claimed they were misled into signing union cards during the UFW’s campaign.
The UFW, meanwhile, has argued that the card-check method protects workers from potential retaliation linked to open voting and has enhanced labor rights. However, the immediate certification of the UFW by the state Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB), despite the protests and formal appeals from Wonderful, has intensified the dispute. The company fears that moving forward with a bargaining agreement under these contentious circumstances could irreversibly alter its operations and worker relations.
Judge Barmann, in his 21-page decision, emphasized the public interest in safeguarding constitutional rights over rapid union certification. He stated that an injunction is crucial until a full legal review can determine the law’s constitutionality. This decision halts both the unionization effort and the administrative proceedings related to Wonderful’s ongoing appeal against the UFW’s certification.
In defense of the card-check law, the state and ALRB officials, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, argued that there was no evidence of immediate harm that would warrant judicial intervention, asserting that the existing ALRB processes adequately protect all parties’ rights. However, the court’s recent ruling puts these processes on hold, spotlighting significant constitutional questions regarding the balance between facilitating unionization and preserving fair labor practices.
Rob Yraceburu, president of Wonderful Nurseries, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, highlighting the company’s commitment to ensuring that the rights of its workers are not overshadowed by expedited union procedures. Conversely, UFW spokesperson Elizabeth Strater criticized the decision, claiming it undermines decades of labor law and vowing to appeal, reflecting the union’s frustration with what it perceives as corporate tactics to dilute worker representation.
Amidst this legal skirmish, the UFW has accused Wonderful of engaging in anti-union activities, including coercing workers to attend meetings intended to dissuade them from supporting union representation. Such allegations led to an ALRB complaint against Wonderful, accusing it of unfair labor practices, a charge the company denies.
This high-stakes legal battle not only questions the new mechanisms for farmworker unionization in California but also tests the fundamental principles of labor rights and employer obligations. As both sides prepare for prolonged legal engagements, the outcomes of this case may influence future labor relations and unionization processes across the agricultural sector. The looming question remains: can a balance be struck that genuinely protects both worker rights and fair business practices in an industry as vital and volatile as agriculture?