NAPA VALLEY

It’s been almost a year since Jorge Deharo has driven a tractor for Charles Krug Winery. Deharo’s job — and those of 26 fellow employees — was a casualty of a labor dispute between United Farm Workers and the winery that is still dragging on.

Since the winery broke with the union and laid off the workers on July 7, 2006, it’s been tough finding steady work for Deharo and the rest of the workers. Meanwhile the dispute between Krug and the UFW is in the hands of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, which may decide as early as today whether to pursue labor violation charges against Krug.

“The investigation has been complete and we are now discussing what further steps we are going to have to take,” said Fred Capuyan, regional director of the ALRB’s Salinas office. “(We can) either issue a complaint or dismiss them. We haven’t made that decision yet. I’m shooting for the end of this month.”

Capuyan said if the ALRB pursues the complaints, Charles Krug would have 10 days to answer charges and then the matter would go in front of an administrative law judge. If the charges are dismissed, United Farm Workers would have an opportunity to appeal the dismissal. The ALRB will also address an earlier complaint, filed at the time of the workers’ dismissals, saying the winery engaged in bad-faith bargaining with UFW.

Krug officials have denied any wrongdoing, and said the dismissals were based on failed negotiations for a new contract with workers.

Physical exams

The labor dispute began when the union contract expired in November 2005. During renegotiations, Charles Krug asked that all union members be required to pass a physical aptitude test. But the union balked and said that the tests might used as a tool to get rid of older workers.

During the fallout, Charles Krug replaced the union employees and turned to local vineyard management firm Jack Neal & Son.

Garcia said the union will appeal the ALRB’s decision if they decide to drop the charges. The union has also been involved in a boycott against the winery, using the Internet to encourage wine lovers to steer away from Krug products.

“We are basically at the point where we are waiting on a hearing date,” said Roberto Garcia, UFW spokesman.

Charles Krug is also waiting for the ALRB’s decision and continuing to utilize Jack Neal & Son to manage its vineyards.

Thomas Fossey, Charles Krug’s chief financial officer, said the vineyard manager is doing a solid job.

“Jack Neal is handling it as a total package,” Fossey said. “He’s managing the operation, the labor requirement and that’s something that he’s professional about.”

Fossey said the winery has yet to feel the effects of any boycott.

Meanwhile, Deharo searches for steady work as a back-up plan, should the dispute swing in the winery’s favor. Since the layoffs, Deharo has worked at various odd and temporary jobs — his most recent stint has been in the gardens of Joseph Phelps Winery in St. Helena.

Deharo, who started at Krug in 1973, was forced to move to a family member’s house in Vallejo from his home in St. Helena in order to make ends meet, he said.

“In terms of finding a job, it’s going very bad for us,” Deharo said. “I gave my entire my life to work at this company.”

Deharo’s last day at Phelps was Friday and the hunt for a new job began almost immediately, he said. Many of Deharo’s fellow workers are in similar situations, he said, scraping by as day laborers or finding other low-paying work.

“They need to see the situation that the workers are in,” Deharo said. “The jobs that we get don’t have good pay, benefits or medical. We can’t find good jobs.”