Farm Labor Organizing Statement - June, 2000

To the ASGP CC 

So far there are 31 votes in favor of the resolutions on immigration and Farm Workers with none opposed. Votes have come in from 19 states. The sheet in front of me lists 28 member parties, though some one mentioned the other day that there are 29 members. DE did not send in a list of delegates early enough to be included in this vote, So 19 States out of 27 or 28 is more than 2/3. I therefore believe that both resolutions pass. If I have tallied this wrong, please let me know, as 2/3 of 54 would be 36 votes. Clarity on whether both votes from a state must be cast for a state to count towards the 2/3 of the states must vote would be helpful. 

The wording of the resolutions (without the explanatory language) are included below. As written the ASGP has endorsed the Ohio Green Party's calls for action and support. I recommend to the communications or media committees that when they send out releases that they word the releases as ASGP supports rather than an endorsement of the OHIO Green endorsement. 

Greg Gerritt Secretary, ASGP 

We, the representatives of the Green Party Of Ohio Organizing Committee to the ASGP, are resubmitting the proposal that the ASGP endorse the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's (FLOC) call for unconditional amnesty for all undocumented workers. 

Resolution 1. 
Undocumented workers are exploited by employers and are deprived of any legal recourse or rights due to their fear of deportation. These workers are here in this country doing valuable jobs, paying taxes and contributing to their communities. Justice demands that they be given the tools to advocate for themselves and their families by being granted the legal right to remain in this country. 

Resolution 2. 
In keeping with Green Party of Ohio's commitment of focusing the political power of the grass roots in order to establish social justice and equity, we support migrant farm workers in their efforts to improve their working conditions. We also denounce the conditions of indentured servitude and lack of collective bargaining rights suffered by Undocumented Immigrant workers, and therefore call upon the US government to grant unconditionalamnesty for all undocumented workers. As citizens seeking to bring about a positive change in our political structures and in our communities we recognize that the injustices suffered by farm workers and undocumented workers cannot be tolerated. As consumers we refuse to acquiesce to the mistreatment of workers or to endorse exploitative production practices. 

Therefore on June 17, 2000 the Organizing Committee of the Green Party of Ohio unanimously agreed to endorse the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's boycott of Mt. Olive Pickles. We further agreed unanimously to join FLOC's call for amnesty for all undocumented immigrant workers. 

The Green Party of Ohio urges all supporters to join the boycott and refuse to purchase Mt. Olive Pickles, and to write a letter to the president of Mt. Olive Pickles asking him to work towards improving the conditions for farmworkers by joining FLOC at the bargaining table. Letters can be sent to: 

Mr. William Bryan, President 
Mt. Olive Pickle Co.
Cucumber and Vine
Mt. Olive NC 28365