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DESCRIPTION:Support Farmworkers!\n\nJoin farmworkers from the independent farmworker 
 union Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ) for a panel discussion, 
 workshop, and a boycott picket at Whole Foods Market.\n\nThis event starts 
 at Alley Cat Bookstore\n3036 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110\n\n11AM: Hear 
 from the farmworkers as they give a history of their struggle in fighting 
 for an end to systemic wage theft, poverty wages, hostile working 
 conditions, and unattainable production standards. Learn about what they 
 are doing to get a union contract and the direction they are heading in 
 their work.\n\nLunch/Networking (food not provided)\n\n2PM: Interactive 
 Workshop\nLearn about the tactics of a boycott picket, how to have 
 conversations about issues affecting farmworkers, and prepare posters for 
 the boycott picket at Whole Foods Market.\n\n4-5PM: Boycott Picket at Whole 
 Foods Market with Families United for Justice \nWhole Foods Market, 2001 
 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114\n\nBackground 
 information:\n\nFamilias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ) an independent 
 farmworker union comprised of 450 migrant farmworkers based in Whatcom and 
 Skagit Counties in Washington state is embarking on a month-long tour along 
 the West Coast to organize a major offensive on the world’s largest berry 
 distributor, Driscoll’s Berries. \n\nFor the last two and half years the 
 workers have been fighting to win a union contract at Driscoll’s supplier 
 Sakuma Bros Berry farm, and have endorsed a consumer boycott of 
 Driscoll’s berries. The delegation, including union president Ramon 
 Torres and two rank and file union members, will make stops in 16 cities in 
 Oregon and California. \n\nIn union halls, churches and classrooms 
 farmworkers will share their story of working ten hour days picking berries 
 with their children at their side, receiving poverty wages and no lunch or 
 rest breaks for years before rising up and fighting to change these 
 conditions with strikes, court cases and a consumer boycott. In the 
 tradition of Cesar Chavez they plan to organize grassroots boycott 
 committees that will promote the boycott on an ongoing basis until 
 Driscoll’s suppliers negotiate union contracts.\n\nThe tour marks a 
 turning point from a localized fight in Washington State with little 
 national media attention to an international effort of two independent 
 farmworker unions taking on the corporate food regime and putting 
 farmworker justice and transformation of the food system back into the 
 minds and actions of U.S consumers. In March of 2015, international 
 grassroots interest in the boycott of Driscoll’s berries exploded when 
 80,000 farmworkers in San Quintin Mexico launched a general strike, formed 
 an independent union, Sindicato Independiente Nacional Democrático de 
 Jornaleros Agrícolas and endorsed the consumer boycott of Driscoll’s. 
 Since then the two independent unions have announced that neither will sign 
 union contracts with their respective Driscoll’s suppliers unless the 
 other union is signing a contract as well.\n\n“As long as Driscoll's 
 continues the exploitation of workers in Mexico and the US we will fight 
 for the well-being of our families with the boycott. Boycott Driscoll's!” 
 said Felimon Pineda, VP of Familias Unidas por la Justicia\n\nIn the United 
 States the average lifespan of a farmworker is only 49 years. “Conditions 
 for farmworkers in the United States are just as bad or worse than they 
 were during Cesar's time” Says Rosalinda Guillen a farmworker and 
 organizer who grew up the Skagit Valley during the 1960s.\n\nOn March 17th 
 when Familias Unidas delegation leaves Washington State to begin the tour, 
 thousands of workers in Mexico will be setting out on foot in a four-day 
 march from San Quintin to the US Mexico border to mark the one year 
 anniversary of their strike. Familias Unidas and El Sindicato have seized 
 the political moment and are organizing grassroots power to build a boycott 
 on the scale of the Cesar Chavez grape boycott to take on the corporate ag 
 industry and win union contracts for berry pickers in both Washington State 
 and San Quintin Mexico. Familias Unidas’ west coast tour is manifesting 
 power through a farmworker led grassroots movement to end exploitation 
 border to border.\n\nHalfway through the tour Familias Unidas is calling 
 for a major action to confront the corporate executives of Driscoll’s at 
 their headquarters in Watsonville on March 31st - Cesar Chavez’s Birthday 
 - which is a state holiday in California. \n\n“We can think of no better 
 way to honor Cesar Chavez on his birthday, than to speak truth to the 
 corporate food regime at their front door” said Ramon Torres, President 
 of Familias Unidas por la Justicia.\n\nTo learn more about Familias Unidas 
 and La Alianza de San Quintin and their struggles against the largest berry 
 distributor in the world (Driscoll's) visit www.boycottsakumaberries.com, 
 like Familias Unidas on Facebook, or find your local boycott committee.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/23/18784451.php
SUMMARY:Support Farmworkers: Panel, Workshop and Driscoll's Boycott Picket
LOCATION:Alley Cat Bookstore \n3036 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110 \n&\nWhole 
 Foods Market\n2001 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/03/23/18784451.php
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