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ALRB reports settlements, UFW certification and multiple complaints; staff highlights outreach
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Summary
At its meeting, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board reported a Nov. 4 UFW certification at Golden Fields Produce, announced two settlements resolving retaliation charges for strawberry harvesters, and listed multiple pending complaints across several counties while noting ongoing outreach efforts.
The Agricultural Labor Relations Board reported several enforcement developments and outreach activities at its meeting in Sacramento and online this week.
Executive Secretary Santiago Avila Gomez told the board that “on November 4, the UFW was certified as the exclusive collective bargaining representative of workers involving the commodity of vegetables in Santa Clara County” in the Golden Fields Produce Inc. matter (case 2025RM004); Santiago said there were no objections and the certification is final.
General Counsel Julie Montgomery described two recently resolved retaliation claims filed by strawberry harvesters. Montgomery said the parties in the Monterey County matter reached a settlement in which Scurich Berry Farms agreed to pay the charging party and three coworkers $13,932 in back pay plus interest and standard notice and remedy provisions; the settlement included offers of reinstatement for two workers. Montgomery also said a Ventura County charge against Ishigo Berry Farms was settled after about six months of Region 1 work, with the company to pay $4,854 in back pay and $1,500 per worker in lieu of reinstatement, plus standard notice and remedial provisions.
Santiago listed a set of new and pending unfair labor practice complaints by case number, commodity and county, including matters involving strawberries, stone fruit, avocados, cilantro, lemons and grapes in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Fresno, Monterey, Tulare and Kern counties (examples cited include Red Blossom Farms Inc., Rastagar Farms Management, Moonlight Packing Co. LLC, Sorrento Berry Farms LLC, Healthy Harvest Berries Inc., and Wright's Ranches Inc.). He also reported amended and consolidated filings in Kern County (Hosai Guy Farms, case 2023CE014VIS; a consolidated Sai Dai Farms Inc. matter, 2024CE034 et al.), and said an ALRB administrative order (ALRB Admin Order 2025-15) directed parties to refile exceptions under board regulation 20282 related to an underlying decision (40 ALRB No. 4; case numbers 2013CE008VIS and 2013CE014VIS) and that the matter remains pending before the board.
Montgomery said staff continued outreach and education during the holiday period, including two workshops at a migrant literacy conference in the Santa Maria/Bodega School District (Dec. 20), staffing events in Santa Paula and Merced County, and media appearances. Montgomery noted Regional Director Yesenia Del Luna’s appearances on La Ora Nistecca and that staff appeared on Delamundo to discuss workers’ rights in cold-weather conditions.
During questioning the Chair asked whether sanitation and water complaints in the Monterey matter had been referred to Cal/OSHA; Montgomery said referrals to other agencies are standard practice but she did not know whether a referral was made in that specific case and that staff follows standard procedures when other violations are identified.
The report did not include a litigation update; no public commenters spoke. The board recessed to closed session and later returned and adjourned.
