For Release: Wednesday, June 18, 1997

11 a.m. in Watsonville

Dozens of community activists will challange four big Driscoll growers overdiscrimination

Dozens of community leaders from Santa Cruz County and surrounding areas will attempt to hand 3'X5' mock termination notices to four large growers who ship their strawberries through the Driscoll cooler Wednesday at the company's Watsonville headquarters. The blown-up pink slips will be used to protest alledged widespread discrimination against berry pickers who support the United Farm Workers and are trying to improve working conditions.

The community leaders were outraged after personally hearing testimony from dozens of strawberry workers about intimidation, harassment and biased treatment by company supervisors at the four Driscoll ranches. They will stand by a banner reading, "No Tolorance For Intimidation"

The protesters hail from a wide array of community groups, from Fr. Stuart Schlegal, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, and John Leopold, Social Justice Chair, temple Beth El, Aptos to Maggie Reynolds, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz and Yolanda Serna, Hotel and restaurant Employees, Local 483, Santa Cruz.

WHO: Forty community and religious leaders from Santa Cruz County.

WHAT: Handing 3'X5' mock pink termination notices protesting worker complaints of discrimination against berry pickers to Driscoll growers Miles Reiter, William Flory, Clint Miller and Richard Uyematsu--all members of Driscoll's board of directors.

WHEN: 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 18, 1997.

WHERE: Driscoll headquarters, 345 Westridge Dr. (Cross St: Harkin Slough St. & Green Valley Rd. Near Hwy. 1) in Watsonville.