Farm Workers Gain Strength with Recent Court Decision

In a move that gives California farm workers more clout, a state appeals court has upheld a law that allows mediators to impose terms of a labor contract if the growers and employees reach an impasse.

Labor leaders say the ruling would end the ability of growers to hinder efforts with delaying tactics to avoid signing bargaining agreements.

A 2002 state law gives workers who have voted to unionize the right to demand mediation if the union can't reach an agreement on its first contract with growers in 90 days. If after 30 days of mediation no agreement has been reached, the mediator can effectively write the contract. Either party can appeal to the state Agricultural Relations Board.

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