United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez has worked for more than three decades in the labor union co-founded by Cesar Chavez in the 1960s.
Rodriguez was at the Capitol last week to lobby for Assembly Bill 2386, which would make it easier for the union to organize by allowing farmworkers to sign cards in lieu of secret-ballot voting.
Why alter the system of ballot-booth voting for union representation?
We know that when farmworkers have representation, they feel security. … (Under the current system) there's just too much intimidation and coercion that takes place – abuse of the system (by growers seeking to discourage participation).
Percent of farmworkers in UFW?
Probably somewhere around 3 percent to 4 percent in the state, at most.
Will Cesar Chavez Day ever be a national holiday?
I definitely think it will come about. I don't have a real indication as to when. But I think people want to have heroes. … Cesar Chavez is someone who made huge sacrifices and dedicated his life toward improving farmworkers and their lifestyles and giving them opportunities.
Will California ever allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver's licenses or college aid?
Definitely (within four years) we're not only going to have changes in immigration reform, but we'll see farmworkers – immigrant farmworkers – be able to have … their children go to colleges, and universities, and to begin to access the American dream like everyone else does. There's a lot of hope.
The UFW endorsed Hillary Clinton. How does it feel now about Barack Obama?
Oh, we're very much supportive of him. We're going to work as hard as we possibly can to see him get into office.
Do you consider Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a friend of the UFW?
Well, I would characterize the governor as someone who has looked upon farmworkers as human beings. When he (signed emergency regulations in 2006 to protect outdoor workers), he did something that no other previous governor had done. And we'd been fighting for it since 1990.
Call Jim Sanders, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5538.
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