Protestors visit Driscoll’s Watsonville headquarters

Once again protesters are boycotting large berry supplier Driscoll’s.

An independent farmworker union from Washington along with other organizations and concerned citizens have a long list of complaints against the family owned business, that operates 700 independent growers around the world.

This is part of a month long tour, to gain more support and groups to join the fight and boycott.

So far they’ve formed 14 committees, the goal is to create anywhere from 20 to 40.

“Boycott Driscoll’s, boycott Driscolls!” yelled protesters.

Protesters marched down Westridge Drive, stopping in front of Driscoll’s headquarters in Watsonville.

They say this is in response to field workers being denied lunch and rest breaks, inhumane housing conditions, wage theft and harassment from supervisors.

“They’ve always treated us however they wanted to,” said Ramon Torres. President of Familias Unidas Por la Justicia. “This is the moment to change that.”

Dricoll’s told KION they believe in the rights of field workers, their dignity and treating them with respect.

“We want a healthy and safe work environment for our independent growers that work with these employers,” said Driscoll’s CEO Kevin Murphy.

They also tell KION they have put worker welfare standards in place, have asked third party auditors to help them improve working conditions and Driscoll’s participates in industry wide organizations in Mexico to help look at agricultural labor.

“Driscoll’s has a long history of doing the right thing in being involved, creating opportunities for people,” said Murphy. “Being at the forefront of a lot of innovative ideas, in the past, food safety and now we’re working on worker welfare.”

Protestors said they will not stop until they sign a union contract with Driscoll’s.

“We have a just constitution, but it’s never actually been enforced,” said Gloria Gracida, spokesperson for the farmworkers in San Quintin.

The contract wouldlegally obligate them to pay workers $15 an hour, offer medical plans, good living conditions, pension and keep children out of the fields.

“Their worker’s rights will be respected, point by point,” said Gracida.

Driscoll’s says agricultural unionizing differs from state by state and that unionizing is the right of the workers.

“We feel very strongly in this matter,” said Murphy. “We can’t force them to unionize or not to unionize that’s the choice of the workers.”

The group will head to Chicago next for a conference.

Driscoll’s tells us they will continue to ensure that their products are produced in an ethical way.

ORIGINAL STORY: A group representing an independent farmworkers union is protesting outside the Driscoll’s company headquarters in Watsonville, calling for a nationwide boycott of Driscoll’s berries.

Familias Unidas por la Justicia is on a month-long west coast tour in support of efforts to unionize farmworkers at Washington-based Kauma Bros. Farms, which supplies berries to Driscoll’s.

Our Maya Holmes will have more on the protests and official reaction from Driscoll’s tonight at 5 and 6 on KION, your Central Coast News Source.