BILL NUMBER:  SB 104
  VETOED	DATE: 06/28/2011




June 28, 2011


To the Members of the California State Senate:

In 1975, it was my privilege to sign into law our nation's first
agricultural labor relations act, the "ALRA."  This monumental
achievement came only after a decade of intense conflict and violence
in the fields.

The movement created by the United Farm Workers provided the
political basis for the legislative process that made the ALRA
possible. In previous years, all attempts at passing a farm labor
bill had failed, caught in the cross pressures generated by the
profound differences that divided the Teamsters, the growers and the
UFW. The final bill was not the product of one side but a hard fought
compromise. It came after months of meetings and the participation
of literally thousands of people. I personally spent hundreds of
hours-often late into the night-listening and arguing with lawyers
and representatives of all the sides.

Thirty-six years later, the ALRA is still recognized as the best
labor relations act in the country. Under its protections, tens of
thousands of agricultural workers have voted for unionization or
otherwise expressed their choice as to how their interests should be
advanced.

Yet, the disputes never quite stopped and today there are serious
complaints that workers are deprived of their rights through a
variety of unfair, improper and illegal acts. The proponents of SB
104 argue that the ALRA no longer works and must be drastically
changed.

SB 104 is indeed a drastic change and I appreciate the frustrations
that have given rise to it.  But, I am not yet convinced that the far
reaching proposals of this bill--which alter in a significant way
the guiding assumptions of the ALRA-are justified.  Before
restructuring California's carefully crafted agricultural labor law,
it is only right that the legislature consider legal provisions that
more faithfully track its original framework.  The process should
include all those who are affected by the ALRA.

I am deeply committed to the success of the ALRA and stand ready to
engage in whatever discussions-public and private-that will
accomplish the appropriate changes.


As at the beginning, all parties must be heard and, before any
product emerges, a wide array of opinions and experiences should be
fairly considered. Besides being personally involved, I will direct
my Labor and Agricultural Secretaries to reach out to all those who
can help us achieve a fair and just result.

I am returning Senate Bill 104 without my signature.

Sincerely,



Edmund G. Brown Jr.