http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/59307.html

Grape pickers protest conditions at Giumarra
BY LOUIS MEDINA, Californian staff writer
e-mail: lmedina@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Jun 27 2006 9:10 PM
Last Updated: Tuesday, Jun 27 2006 9:14 PM

A group of grape pickers employed by Giumarra Vineyards and organized by the United Farm Workers protested outside the company's headquarters Tuesday against what they claim are harsh working conditions.

UFW organizer Armando Elenes said the workers were protesting the lack of umbrellas and tables that would allow packers to sort and crate grapes while standing in some shade rather than kneeling in the sun all day, and of wheelbarrows that would prevent pickers from having to lug heavy crates.

"You figure with the record heat that we have they'd take some empathy," Elenes said of Giumarra's management.

Several attempts to contact a Giumarra spokesperson before the protest were unsuccessful.

Elenes said the demonstration came on the heels of an incident Monday in which three grape pickers fainted from the heat and a foreman did not readily know how to respond to the situation.

Elenes said that according to new safety regulations, supervisors of farm workers have to know what to do in case a worker is suffering from heat exhaustion.

"We know that the company has taken some steps to ensure the minimum standards, but there needs to be more done," Elenes said, "more looking for signs in case someone is feeling dizzy or not feeling well."