Porpiglia Farms workers in Marlboro, New York, are organizing to challenge the United Farm Workers (UFW) union’s influence following a contentious “card check” campaign. The campaign, part of a 2020 law passed by the New York State Assembly, allows union officials to establish control over farmworkers without a secret ballot vote. This law also mandates that workers must pay union dues or face termination.
Ricardo Bell, an employee at Porpiglia Farms, submitted a petition to the New York Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) requesting a vote on whether to remove the UFW from his workplace. Foundation attorneys have supported Bell’s case against the UFW’s claim that once certified as a representative, it cannot be removed.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is backing this decertification effort and others across New York and states with similar labor laws. The Foundation argues that workers should have the right to choose their representation freely and not be bound indefinitely by one decision.
William Messenger, Vice President and Legal Director of the National Right to Work Foundation, criticized the UFW’s tactics: “The aggressive and often demeaning tactics that UFW union officials use to seize control over agricultural workers show clearly why ‘card check’ is a bad idea in the agricultural sector, the public sector, and in any sector.”
This ongoing legal battle highlights tensions between labor unions’ authority and workers’ rights in sectors where “card check” campaigns are prevalent.
