UUA Joins Gallo Boycott

Rob Keithan, UUA Washington Office, with the boycott letter

Action comes following passage of UUA GA Statement of Conscience

(Washington DC – July 19, 2005) Coinciding with “Boycott Gallo” events around the country, UUA Washington Office Director Rob Keithan sent a letter yesterday informing the company of the 2005 UUA General Assembly's decision to support the National Farm Worker Ministry and United Farm Workers' Boycott of Gallo.

Specifically, the Assembly called on the more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations in the United States to “boycott Gallo wines until the management of Gallo of Sonoma negotiates a new contract with the United Farm Workers providing for fair wages, just working conditions, and health benefits for all of its farm workers.”

Keithan shared news of the General Assembly action and letter at the Washington, DC, Boycott Gallo campaign event hosted by Beyond Pesticides, an environmental group that works to protect farm workers from toxic pesticides. Those attending events were encouraged to sign an on-line petition letting Gallo know that they had joined the boycott.

According to Keithan, “Gallo is a $1.7 billion per year company, and in the last 10 years they've outsourced 75% of their labor force to workers who were never covered by labor contracts, and thus work for below-poverty wages with no health insurance. To avoid the growing influence of organized workers, the company illegally tried to de-certify the union. It's unfortunate that a boycott is necessary, but other avenues have failed. I hope that UU congregations and individuals UUs will join the boycott, and communicate their decisions to Gallo.”

To take action, go to www.gallounfair.com

The UUA's letter is available at www.uua.org/uuawo/pdf/UUAtoGallo.pdf

Gallo sells wine and spirits under nearly 60 different labels, including Ecco Domani, Frei Bothers, and Turning Leaf. For a card of labels to boycott, see www.uua.org/uuawo/pdf/galloboycottcard.pdf

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100