Fresno - Hundreds of farm workers will gather outside a California election office on election night to protest a state labor board suppressing their votes from a union decertification election.

The workers, from Fresno-based Gerawan Farming, voted to decertify the United Farm Workers (UFW) last November, but the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) locked up the ballots and is refusing to count them.

"It's an outrageous attempt to help the UFW impose a contract on these workers that will take 3 percent of their pay against their will," said Center for Worker Freedom executive director Matt Patterson.

So on Tuesday November 4, Gerawan workers, their families and supporters will hold a silent candlelight vigil at an elections office at 2221 Kern Street in Fresno, CA from 8:00 pm-9:30 pm.  

The silence will represent their voices being stolen by the ALRB; the candles will represent their hope for freedom from the UFW. 

"Everyone's vote will be counted that night.  We want to remind people that we are still waiting for ours to be counted a year after our election" says Areli Sanchez, one of the thousands of workers denied their constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and assembly by the ALRB.

"We have been screaming for Governor Brown to help us for a year.  Maybe now he will hear our silence," said Sanchez, a 14-year Gerawan employee. 

The Center for Worker Freedom (CWF) is helping to coordinate the vigil. CWF is a special project of Americans for Tax Reform.

Who:  Hundreds of Gerawan workers and their supporters, including (expected) Silvia Lopez, the single mother who helped lead the charge for decertification last November

What:  Silent candlelight vigil to protest votes being suppressed by the ALRB

Where:  Fresno County Elections Office, 2221 Kern Street, Fresno, CA 93721

When:  Tuesday, November 4, 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Why:  Because in a democracy every vote deserves to be counted, and every voice deserves to be heard

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CONTACT:

John Kartch

202-785-0266

jkartch@atr.org