Headed to the Capitol

by "ImmoralMinority" (araimondo)
Published 03/01/2017 at 09:52

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STARS: 7

Off to Sacramento today.

I have been representing a group of farm workers in a pro bono case against the UFW, and they asked me to go. This post is not to convince you we are right in that case. Today, the state Senate votes on confirming the nomination of Isadore Hall to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board. Mr. Hall is at the right in the photo, waving the UFW flag. The workers are protesting against the appointment.

By all accounts, Hall is decent person. But this job is essentially judicial, as the ALRB issues published opinions and its case law establishes ag labor law in California.

The only union that presently uses this law is the UFW, and it is the only union with cases before the ALRB. He marched waving their flag in opposition to the workers I represent, who have cases on appeal that may be remanded to the ALRB for decision. He will be the third member on a 5 member board. 2 seats have been vacant for years. That makes him the swing vote on close cases.

I am not trying to say whether unions are good or bad, or whether we are right in our particular case. But if you think people deserve unbiased judges, this should bother you. How can he separate himself from those he marched with and supported? How can he serve when they will be the party most frequently before him?

We are bound to fail. I did this before, opposing the reappointment of a member who was running the agency during a period where a state audit revealed fiscal mismanagement. We were shunted aside, and even the liberal politicians wanted nothing to do with the workers - immigrants who came to the Capitol because they believe they can be heard. It was depressing.

But the workers want me to be there, so I go.

Replies (5)

"Nibby" (nibby68)
03/01/2017 at 09:54, STARS: 0

"TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts." (thebloody)
03/01/2017 at 10:05, STARS: 0

Appointments like his seem to be the norm these days.  

"TheRevanchist" (therevanchist)
03/01/2017 at 11:07, STARS: 2

It wouldn’t be so bad, but the UFW and the ALRB have both been in bed together for a while. The UFW drops off the map for a couple of decades, then decides to put themselves back in power because the money is no longer rolling in, they assert themselves back into areas they have not supported.

Really, they are all politics and has nothing to do with supporting workers’ rights.

"Owl is lost" (owlislost)
03/01/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0

I’m interested to hear more about the case. Is this something you can talk about?

"TheRevanchist" (therevanchist)
03/01/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 3

Here is some reading. Here is some more . Radanovich is an a-hole, but he’s not completely wrong, either.