WATSONVILLE (California) REGISTER-PAJARONIAN

April 6, 2006

150 protest Pajaro nursery employees firing

 

BY AMANDA SCHOENBERG

 

About 150 people waved United Farm Worker flags during Tuesday’s City Council meeting and complained of what they called the unfair firing of more than 100 mostly female workers at Monterey Bay Bouquet on Salinas Road in Pajaro.

Most nursery workers earned between $9 and $10 per hour, with vacation and medical benefits. The new hires earn about $7 per hour and do not receive benefits, according to UFW representative Sergio Guzman.

The workers have been picketing at the company since they were fired at the end of March, Guzman said.

“We want either compensation or our jobs back,” said Carmen Garcia, who has worked at the company for six years and earns $7.78 per hour.

Maria Elba Herrera, a Watsonville resident who has arranged bouquets at the company for 15 years, said she has not earned a raise in four years. She said she was not sure how she would eat or pay rent if she did not get her job back.

As workers left the meeting, Mayor Antonio Rivas joined them outside, where he handed out his phone number and promised to contact the owner of Monterey Bay Bouquet, as well as the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, to help the women.