KGET-17 TV

July 11, 2008

Farmworker Housing Controversy

The United Farm Workers is accusing a local grower of forcing a group of farm workers to sleep outside in this heat, but 17 News has learned that the grower is not responsible for the workers.

Nearly 20 farmworkers say they came here to Giumarra Vineyards expecting work and housing but they were left sleeping outside.

But, local grower John Giumarra says he only promised work to a select few and anyone else who showed up, came on their own.

Every year a group of farmworkers comes to Kern County from the Coachella Valley to pick grapes grown at Giumarra Vineyards, but this harvest these farmworkers say they were promised jobs and housing they are yet to see.

Juan Martinez says his family and other workers have been sleeping in these conditions since Saturday. "On the floor, others in the car and its just too hot to have kids here."

The United Farm Workers union says they are still investigating what happened but what they do know is farmworkers, including some families with children, were left to sleep outside in middle of this heat wave.

Armando Elenes of the United Farm Workers union said, "when they got here, to their surprise, there was no jobs and no housing. Some were forced to sleep outside and some of the units did not have air conditioning."

We went to the vineyard this morning but we found no farmworkers and were asked to leave the property.

Vineyard owner John Giumarra would not go on camera but did tell 17 News that every year he does hire a select group of farmworkers from the Coachella Valley who have been trained to work at his vineyard and who he provides housing to.

Giumarra says this year more people came in hopes of finding work than he promised jobs to or has the ability to hire.

We asked Giumarra if he had any idea where these farmworkers were today.  He said he does not know or care because they are not his employees.

"They were aware of the situation so at least they could have come out here and offered these people some water. They had no food no water no way to make ends meet."

Today Giumarra tells me he had no idea the farmwokers were sleeping out here until last night. 

A few years ago, workers at Giumarra farms voted against unionizing.

But the UFW says that's not why they are picking on them.  They say their only concern is the conditions of farmworkers.