Obama letter interests McCain

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=7232

Published: August 29, 2008

By ED MERRIMAN

Baker City Herald

The letter Barack Obama wrote to Beef Northwest regarding the company's employees joining United Farm Workers union has attracted the attention of the John McCain for President Committee.

"The McCain campaign has copies of the letter, and we have had conversations with them," said John Wilson, an owner of Beef Northwest, headquartered in North Powder.

Wilson said he's been amazed at the attention Obama's letter has received, considering the dispute between UFW and Beef Northwest directly involves fewer than 250 people.

That dispute is over the process by which workers at Beef Northwest feedlots, including one in Hermiston, should decide whether they want to join the UFW.

Union officials contend a majority of workers have already indicated they want to join the union, by filling out union cards.

Beef Northwest has proposed a confidential vote.

And the ranchers who belong to Country Natural Beef, whose cattle are finished at Beef Northwest's Hermiston feedlot, recommend a secret ballot election.

FULL story at link.

[mzmolly]

1. You do a great job here Steve.

Do you know if there is a copy of the letter anywhere?

[Omaha Steve]

2. To see letter click here

Obama Urges Justice for Beef Northwest Workers

To see letter click here: http://www.ufw.org/pdf/obama8408.pdf

PORTLAND--Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama sent a letter to John Wilson of Beef Northwest on Monday, urging him to honor the results of a free and fair election where a majority of the workers asked for representation by the UFW.

In his letter Obama said, “I encourage you to recognize the card check election of June 13, and to negotiate with your employees’ chosen bargaining agent, the United Farm Workers.”

On June 13 a neutral third-party verified that a majority of workers wanted UFW representation. To date, Beef Northwest has refused to accept the outcome of this election.

Beef Northwest operates feedlots in Boardman and Nyssa, Ore. and Quincy, WA. Country Natural Beef fattens all their cattle at the Beef Northwest feedlots prior to slaughter.

“If this election is good enough for who we expect to be the next President of the United States, it should be good enough for Beef Northwest,” said Steve Witte, UFW Pacific Northwest director of strategic campaigns. “Beef Northwest should heed Sen. Obama’s call to end this dispute by immediately beginning good faith negotiations with the UFW.”

Feedlot workers at Beef Northwest have been trying for more than a year to organize, but they have been met with resistance by the company as well as subjected to threats and intimidation for supporting the union.

In addition, in late May of this year, three women from eastern Oregon filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against Beef Northwest claiming the company refused to take their applications and instead hired men to fill the open positions.

In his letter, Obama went on to say, “I am committed to the ability of our nation’s agricultural workers to organize, to receive a decent wage, and to have a safe working environment. All workers should be free to form a union, and if they choose to form a union, management should negotiate in good faith to reach first contract.”

The United Farm Workers is the largest agricultural workers’ union in Oregon and Washington.

To see letter click here: http://www.ufw.org/pdf/obama8408.pdf

[mzmolly]

3. Thank you.

:hi: