Sign the petition: Giumarra Vineyards Sued by EEOC for Sexual Harassment & Retaliation

[Omaha Steve]

Take action here: http://action.ufw.org/page/s/eeoc



We need your help. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has just filed suit against Giumarra Vineyards for allegedly violating federal law by sexually harassing a teenage female farm worker and retaliating against farm workers who came to her aid.

You most probably remember Giumarra, and their Nature's Partner label, from the e-mails we sent you last summer. We told you about their outrageous behavior and despicable actions against workers--many of whom are organizing for a union contract. Giumarra Vineyards, the world's largest table grape company, harvests approximately 1 out of every 10 bunches of grapes picked in the US. Because the company is so huge, their behavior helps set the industry standard.

The EEOC case is consistent with the company's behavior, as Giumarra has a long history of intimidating workers and violating their rights. According to the EEOC's suit (EEOC v. Giumarra Vineyards Corporation, et al, Case No. 1:09-cv-02255), the young woman "was subjected to sexual advances, sexually inappropriate touching and abusive and offensive sexual comments about the male sex organ by a male co-worker." The EEOC further alleged that after witnessing the sexual harassment, farm workers came to the aid of the teenage victim and complained to Giumarra Vineyards.

The result? One day after reporting the incident, the victim and people who helped her were fired. The EEOC suit states they "were summarily discharged in retaliation for their opposition to the sexual harassment." (More details in the EEOC's press release.)

What happened to this vulnerable young girl and the others who simply came to her defense was reprehensible and illegal.

We have begun an online petition. A delegation of women leaders will hand it in to Giumarra/Nature's Partner and attempt to meet with this company in mid-February. Please sign the petition today--and send it to as many friends as possible. Give Giumarra a strong message that you will not tolerate this behavior.

Take Action at: http://action.ufw.org/eeoc

[alstephenson]

1. Done.

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