United Fresh Launches State Grassroots Opposition as Card Check is Reintroduced
March 12, 2009
The misnamed Employee Free Choice Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate Tuesday, after barely failing to pass in 2008. Standing in opposition to the legislation, United Fresh President Tom Stenzel announced the formation of new Card Check Grassroots Networks in eight key states to organize a base of support for United's efforts to block the legislation.
"While we'll take the fight over card check to every Congressional district, the eventual determination of whether this bill passes likely rests in the hands of just a few key Senators in swing states – states where we believe we need to make a difference," Stenzel said. United is forming grassroots networks in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Each state grassroots network will bring together companies and individuals from the entire produce supply chain in each state, building not only upon the grower agricultural base that may be present, but calling on all processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, restaurants and allied suppliers in each state. The grassroots team within each state will be led by a member chairman or co-chairs with a goal of building the widest possible network of individuals to call and write letters to Congress, meet with their Senators in their home state, provide letters and editorials to local newspapers, call on their friends and neighbors to educate them on the danger of card check and generally lead the charge in this highly targeted effort.
