Oakland supports farm workers

In a move that made union members a bit happier this week, Oakland became the first city in the state to officially endorse a bill that makes it easier for farm workers to organize, a union spokesman said.

SB 104, which is expected to land on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk soon, farm workers would be able to vote on whether to unionize without having to be physically at the farms, freeing them from notoriously common incidents of farm-owner intimidation, said Roman Pinal, a United Farm Workers rep.

"Cesar Chavez used to say: For all people, but in particular Latino people, if you live in the city, your nails are still dirty," Pinal said. "We're all a generation away from being farm workers."

De La Fuente pushed for the Oakland endorsement, saying the bill will help workers "get through a system that is really kind of set against them "... as they work to support their families and protect their families."

Brown's office declined to comment about his stance on the bill before it reaches his desk.