Agriculture for a Democratic Workplace

This article is part of the Center for Media & Democracy's spotlight on front groups and corporate spin.

Agriculture for a Democratic Workplace (ADW) says its goal is to "continuously communicate our message that agriculture is opposed to the so-called Employee Free Choice Act because we believe that the only way to guarantee worker freedom from coercion and intimidation is to protect the secret ballot." The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) would amend the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), to allow employees to either form a union by signing cards authorizing union representation or by holding an election.

ADW was formed by "several California associations that helped twice defeat similar state legislation." Its website names Coalition for a Democratic Workplace as a national partner.

"While agricultural field workers are not subject to the provisions of the NLRA" -- and thus not the EFCA, should it become law -- "workers in packing plants, processing plants, and cooling facilities; workers in trucking and transportation; workers who handle commodities of multiple farmers; and workers at many other off-the-farm worksites" would be impacted, according to ADW's website.

Members

ADW members include:

• Agricultural Council of California
• Allied Grape Growers
• American Farm Bureau Federation
• American Mushroom Institute
• Arizona Cattle Feeders' Association
• California Association of Winegrape Growers
• California Canning Peach Association
• California Citrus Mutual
• California Dairies, Inc.
• California Farm Bureau Federation
• California Grain & Feed Association
• California Grape & Tree Fruit League
• California Association of Nurseries & Garden Centers
• California Poultry Federation
• Family Winemakers of California
• Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association
• Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
• Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
• Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties
• Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association
• American Nursery and Landscape Association
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association
• National Chicken Council
• National Council of Agricultural Employers
• National Council of Farmers Cooperatives
• National Milk Producers Federation
• National Potato Council
• National Turkey Federation
• Northwest Horticultural Council
• Produce Marketing Association
• Raisin Bargaining Association
• Society of American Florists
• Texas Produce Association
• United Fresh Produce Association
• U.S. Apple Association
• Ventura County Agricultural Association
• Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association
• Western Growers
• Western United Dairymen
• Wine Institute
• Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association

Contact information

Website: http://www.coalitionforagriculture.org

ADW's website address was registered January 16, 2009, by Jon Alexander of the Western Growers Association.

Co-chairs

• Tom Nassif, Western Growers: tnassif AT wga.com
• Doug Mosebar, California Farm Bureau Federation: dmosebar AT cfbf.com
• Barry Bedwell, California Grape and Tree Fruit League: bbedwell AT cgtfl.com

ADW staff

• Jason Resnick, Western Growers Assistant General Counsel: 949-885-2253, jresnick AT coalitionforagriculture.com
• Stacey Satterlee, Western Growers Director of Federal Government Affairs: 202-296-0191, ssatterlee AT coalitionforagriculture.com

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• AFL-CIO
• Center for Union Facts
• Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
• Employee Free Choice Act
• Employee Freedom Action Committee
• Front groups
• National Right to Work Committee
• Rick Berman
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Workforce Fairness Institute