ALRB staff certify United Farm Workers petition to represent employees at almond-and-peach farm; objections due

SACRAMENTO The Agricultural Labor Relations Board(ALRB) executive secretary, Santiago Aguilar Gomez, said regional staff issued a certification July 22 after finding majority support for a United Farm Workers petition to represent employees at a farm described in the record as "Surrender Deci" (pronunciation uncertain), which the report identified as producing almonds and peaches. Objections to the certification are due July 28; Gomez said that, because the employer currently is unrepresented, some objections may be filed on Aug. 4.

Why it matters: A certification based on majority support can trigger a formal representation proceeding or prompt objections and legal challenges that determine whether a union will represent agricultural employees at a given workplace.

Gomez presented the report during the ALRBopen meeting. He said, "Pursuant to that majority support petition, the regional staff and the regional director investigated and issued a tally that majority support was established and for a certification issued yesterday, July 22." The executive secretary also reported other case activity, including filing, refiling, settlements and administrative orders.

Supporting details: Gomez told the board that the United Farm Workers filed a majority support petition and a notice of intent to organize on July 16. He also reported a refiled complaint involving Valadao Dairy (case number 2023CE028VIS), refiled July 17; a settlement in Tazir Appiaris LLC (case number 2019CL005) with an order taking a hearing off calendar issued July 18; and an administrative order (2025-07) dismissing a request for special permission to appeal in United Farm Workers of America v. Monterey Mushrooms LLC (case numbers including 2019CL5 et al.), issued July 10.

Agenda changes and closed-session additions: At the start of the meeting the board unanimously approved minutes from the July 9, 2025 meeting and unanimously approved an amendment to the day's agenda adding two matters to the closed-session docket: Surinder Desai (case number 2025RM002) and Tissue Grown Corporation (case number 2023CE011SAL). The board voted "aye" for both motions; the minutes and amendment passed unanimously.

Process and next steps: Gomez said objections to the July 22 certification are due July 28 but noted the potential for objections on Aug. 4 owing to the employer's unrepresented status. Gomez closed his report by saying, "That concludes my report. Happy to answer any questions." No public commenters addressed the certification during the meeting's public comment period.

Meeting context: The report was informational; the board did not vote on the certification itself during the open meeting. The meeting recessed into closed session and later adjourned. The ALRB scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 6 at 10 a.m.

Ending note: The executive secretary provided case numbers and dates but did not clarify the exact spelling or pronunciation of the farm named in the petition; the transcript records the name as "Surrender Deci" with the speaker expressing uncertainty about pronunciation.